AN 


ADDRESS 


DELIVERED  BEFORE  THE 


CITIZENS  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  IIINGIIAM, 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  OF  SEPTEMBER,  1835, 


BEING    THE 


TWO  HUJVDREDTH  AIVJVIVERSARY 


OF    THE 


SETTLEiMENT   OF   THE   TOWN. 


BY    SOLOMON    LINCOLN, 


HINGHAM: 

JEDIDIAH  FARMER. 

1835. 


; 


AN 


ADDRESS 


DELIVERED  BEFORE  THE 


CITIZENS  OF  THE  TOWN  OF  HINGITAM, 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  OF  SEPTEMBER,  1835, 


BEING    THE 


TWO  HUIVDREDTH  AIVJVIVERSARY 


OF    THE 


SETTLEMENT   OF   THE   TOWN. 


BY    SOLOMON    LINCOLN. 


IIINGIIAM: 

JEDIDIAH  FARMER. 

1835. 


/ 


UNIVERSITY  OF  MASSACHUSETTS 
AT  AMHERST 


UNIVERSITY  LIBRARY 

Special  Collections  &  Rare  Books 


n- 


a. 


ADDRESS 


We  can  never  entirely  divest  ourselves  of  a  regard 
for  ancestry.  A  curiosity  to  know  more  of  the  past 
is  ever  impelling  the  human  mind  to  trace,  either  by 
the  lights  of  history,  or  tradition,  the  connecting  links 
v^hich  bind  us  to  remote  generations  of  men.  This 
curiosity  is  excited  to  still  greater  activity  by  the 
influence  of  strong  local  attachments.  Especially 
when  it  unfolds  to  us  those  traits  of  character  which 
are  ornamental  to  human  nature,  we  cherish  this 
appetite  for  what  wears  the  charm  of  antiquity,  as  a 
guide  to  valuable  instruction  and  the  purest  delight. 

Respect  for  the  dead — love  of  noble  actions — the 
tender  attachment  to  the  place  of  our  nativity  harmo- 
nize with  our  best  sensibilities.  We  love  to  indulge 
and  cultivate  them.  We  feel  that  the  mind  is  ele- 
vated— the  heart  is  made  better,  when  we  can  tear 
ourselves  away  from  the  cares  and  collisions  of  soci- 
ety, and  give  ourselves  up  to  those  sublimer  feelings, 


4 


almost  of  religious  veneration,  with  which  we  con- 
template the  men  and  the  mstitutions  of  former  days. 

These  are  the  feelings  and  sentiments  which  have 
drawn  us  together  to  day.  We  have  assembled  to 
commemorate  the  settlement  of  one  of  the  oldest 
towns  of  New  England  ;  to  review  the  events  of  two 
centuries  intimately  associated  with  all  that  can  af- 
ford us  interest  as  a  community, — and  to  pour  out 
our  prayers  and  thanksgivings  within  the  walls  of 
the  oldest  temple,  that  remains  in  New  England,  as 
a  monument  of  the  piety  of  our  fathers. 

We  stand  between  the  mighty  congregations  of 
the  past  and  the  future, — so  to  contemplate — so  to 
study  the  character  of  those  who  have  gone  before 
us,  as  to  result  in  the  greatest  good  to  those  who 
are  to  come  after  us.  We  have  come  to  take  a  sur- 
vey of  the  works  of  industry,  the  spread  of  learning, 
the  progress  of  civilization,  the  developement  of  the 
principles  of  liberty  within  the  circle  where  centre 
our  most  grateful  recollections,  our  warmest  affec- 
tions, our  brightest  hopes. 

We  would  transplant  ourselves  into  the  midst  of 
a  former  age,  when  the  fires  of  persecution  blazed 
in  the  land  of  our  ancestors,  and  a  stern  despotism 
was  exerted  to  its  utmost  extent,  to  crush  the  spirit 
of  freedom, — and  thence  following  down  the  current 
of  time,  would  trace  the  daring  course  of  the  pilgrim 
band  who  sought  repose  from  the  storm  which  raged 
around  them,  upon  these  shores — then  desolate — 
solitary — inhospitable. 

In   the   year   1635,    the  oppressive  laws  of  the 


Stuarls,  designiMl  lo  cnrorcc  an  ohscrvaiuc  of  iho 
uiiscri])tural  Ibrins  and  c'cnMnonics  of  the  cstahlislicd 
Church,  were  in  tVdl  force.  Fines  and  ini[)risonnient 
were  frequently  im])Osed  to  suhdue  tlie  spirit  and 
break  down  tlie  mlluence  of  those  wlio  dared  lo 
thhik  for  themselves  on  the  subject  of  religious  riglits, 
duties  and  privileges.  The  same  noble  spirit  which 
led  the  pioneers  in  the  cause  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty  to  plant  a  colony  upon  the  desolate  shores  of 
Plymouth,  and  a  more  numerous  company,  to  leave 
all  that  they  loved  in  their  native  land,  to  carry  on 
the  great  work  to  which  their  lives  and  fortunes  were 
devoted,  in  Massachusetts,  was  still  spreading  with 
amazing  rapidity. 

In  the  course  of  the  fifteen  years  of  trial  and  suf- 
fering which  had  been  borne  by  the  settlers  of 
Plymouth,  with  so  much  fortitude  and  so  much  con- 
fidence in  ultimate  success,  often  were  the  reports 
of  their  disasters  carried  home  to  their  Puritan  breth- 
ren. So  far  from  discouraging  the  fearless  men  who 
were  determined  to  keep  alive  the  spark  of  civil  and 
religious  liberty,  they  seem  to  have  inspired  a  deeper 
and  more  earnest  devotion  to  the  cause.  Even 
under  the  influence  of  the  splendid  forms  and  showy 
observances  of  the  English  Church,  the  lofty  s])irit 
of  the  Puritans  could  not  be  attracted  to  a  corrupt 
hierarchy.  Their  keen  sagacity  could  not  fail  to 
penetrate  the  veil  which  covered  corruption  ;  and 
their  integrity  and  independence  could  not  be  so 
war])cd  as  to  acquiesce  in  its  extravagant  demands. 
The  rights  of  conscience  \\  ere  too  clear — too  sacred 


to  be  tampered  with.  Every  attempt  to  destroy, 
increased  their  power. 

It  was  amid  the  prevalence  of  such  views,  and 
while  large  companies  of  men  of  fortune  and  educa- 
tion, and  others  engaged  in  agricultural  and  the  vari- 
ous mechanical  pursuits  were  emigrating  to  this 
resting  place  of  freedom,  that  the  father  of  Peter 
Hobart,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Church  in  this  place, 
with  his  family,  came  to  Charlestown.  They  arrived 
in  the  year  1633.  Two  years  afterwards,  that  dis- 
tinguished friend  of  liberty,  Peter  Hobart,  induced 
by  the  solicitation  of  his  friends,  and  impelled  by 
the  *'cloud  of  prelatical  impositions  and  persecutions" 
which  thickened  around  him,  left  England  with  his 
family  and  a  company  of  friends,  and  arrived  at 
Charlestow^n,  in  June,  upon  which  event,  he  recorded 
in  his  diary  a  brief  and  beautiful  expression  of  his 
devotion  and  thanksgiving  to  God.^ 

Mr.  Hobart  was  a  native  of  Hingham,  in  the 
County  of  Norfolk,  England,  a  town  which  contain- 
ed two  years  since  about  1500  inhabitants,  less  than 
half  the  population  of  our  own.  He  was  educated 
at  the  University  of  Cambridge,  England,  and  or- 
dained by  the  Bishop  of  Norwich  in  the  year  1627. 
He  afterwards  espoused  the  Puritan  cause.  He  was 
admitted  by  the  Conformists  to  possess  fine  abilities. 

1 1G35,  June  8, 1  with  my  wife  and  four  children  came  safely  to  New 
England  June  ye  8  :  1G35,  forever  praysed  be  the  God  of  Heaven,  my 
God  and  King." — Peier  HoharVs  Dianj. 


"  1G35 — Mr.  Peter  Hobart  minister  of  the  Gospel,  with  his  wife  and 
ur  children  came  into  Nev> 
FJin<diam."— C«.9/t?«ir'.s  MSS. 


four  children  came  into  New  England  and  settled   in  this  town  of 


On  his  arrival  lunc,  Ik;  was  about  thirty  years  of 
age,  in  tlic  full  vigor  of  manhood,  possessed  of  great 
energy  of  mind  and  distinguished  for  independence 
of  character.  Although  solicited  hy  several  towns 
to  take  up  his  residence  among  them,  as  their  min- 
ister, he  declined,  preferring  with  his  friends  to 
commence  or  rather  to  establish  a  permanent  settle- 
ment in  this  place.  As  we  learn  by  tradition,  he 
first  landed  on  the  North  side  of  the  stream  wiiich 
flows  into  the  harbor  ;^  and  it  w^as  upon  its  banks, 
under  the  open  canopy  of  heaven,  that  the  first 
public  religious  exercises  were  performed. 

It  was  on  the  eighteenth  of  September,  1635, 
corresponding  to  this  day,  that  the  Pastor  with 
twenty  nine  associates  drew  their  House  Lots,  which 
extended  from  the  point  of  land  at  the  head  of  the 
harbor,  on  the  North  side  of  the  valley.  Westerly, 
to  the  foot  of  Baker's  Hill.^ 

The  infant  settlement  received  considerable  acces- 
sions of  numbers  in  1636,  1637  and  1638.  In 
the  year  1638,  the  whole  population  might  have 
been  300.  ^'All  the  persons  that  came  from  Norfolk 
in  Old  England  in  several  years  (viz  :)  beginning  to 
come  in  the  year  1633  until  the  year  and  in  the  year 
1639  were  206.  The  most  of  them  came  from  Old 
Hingham,  and  the  rest  of  them  from  several  other 
towns  thereabout  and  settled  in  this  town  of  New 
Hingham."^  So  we  are  informed  by  Daniel  Gushing, 
himself  one  of  the  emigrants,  and  subsequently  con- 

1  At  the  junction  of  Ship  with  North  Street. 

2  See  Note  A.         3  See  Note  B. 


8 


spicuous  in  our  annals,  in  various  public  offices,  and 
especially  in  those  of  Town  Clerk  and  a  Magistrate, 
in  both  of  which  capacities  his  services  were  of 
great  benefit  to  the  community  in  which  he  lived. 
Among  those  who  emigrated  to  this  place  in  the  first 
four  years  of  its  settlement,  w^ere  skilful  mechanics, 
substantial  husbandmen,  men  of  education  and  of 
considerable  property.  We  recognize  among  them 
the  ancestors  of  long  lines  of  civilians,  patriots  and 
divines,  comprising  some  of  the  most  illustrious 
families  in  New  England. 

It  is  upon  this  day  then,  two  hundred  years  ago, 
that  we  may  consider  this  town  to  have  received  its 
permanent  settlement. 

Picture  to  yourselves  the  condition  of  this  place 
in  the  first  few  years  of  its  settlement.  The  beau- 
tiful slopes  of  land  which  now  meet  the  eye  in  every 
direction,  the  islands  in  the  harbor  and  the  valley 
running  through  the  village,  were  then  covered  by 
a  heavy  growth  of  forest  trees.  Here  and  there, 
at  convenient  distances,  the  emigrants  had  erected 
their  log  huts  with  thatched  roofs,  from  which  the 
curling  smoke  issuing  through  the  thicket,  was  the 
only  visible  sight  of  the  habitations  of  men.  Neigh- 
bor sought  neighbor  through  the  Indian  paths  which 
wound  around  the  margin  of  the  valley,  through 
which  a  sluggish  stream  found  its  way  between  pro- 
jecting eminences  and  sharp  head-lands  to  the  basin 
which  the  God  of  Nature  seemed  to  have  scooped 
out  for  their  express  accommodation.  Around  the 
indentures  which  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  made 


upon  the  swelling  eminences  and  upon  the  banks 
of  the  streams  in  the  West  and  Eastern  sections  of 
the  town,  lingered  in  gloom  and  solitude  a  remnant 
of  the  tribe  of  Wompatuck,  the  son  of  Chickatabut, 
who  occasionally  chased  their  game  across  the  paths 
of  the  settlers,  and  had  some  glimpses  of 

"  the  cloud,  ordained  to  grow" 
"And  burst  upon  their  hills  in  woe." 

Here  rested  our  Pilgrim  fathers !  Rested,  did 
I  say  ?  True — mind — thought,  was  free.  Con- 
science had  no  restraints  but  truth — liberty  no 
bounds  but  those  prescribed  by  law.  Yet  the  days 
were  frequently  anxious  and  the  nights  sleepless. 
Labor — hard  labor  was  requisite  to  secure  the  ne- 
cessary articles  of  subsistence.  Rules,  laws,  regu- 
lations were  to  be  framed  and  enforced,  to  secure 
the  great  objects  of  the  perilous  enterprize.  Learn- 
ins:  was  not  to  be  overlooked.  Religion  was  to  be 
cherished  and  sustained  in  all  its  freedom  and  powd- 
er. This  was  no  place  for  repose.  The  paths  of 
the  Pilgrims  to  their  daily  labor  were  beset  with 
danger  ;  if  they  went  out  to  fell  the  frames  of  their 
edifices,  the  axe  was  borne  in  one  hand  and  the 
musket  in  the  other.  If  they  assembled  to  perform 
the  solemn  services  of  devotion,  it  was  in  a  temple 
fortified  against  the  attacks  of  the  red  man,  and 
where  the  weapons  of  war  were  piled  around  the 
altars  of  religion.^     The   speaker  who  exhorted  did 

1  In  1645,  June  24th,  it  was  voted  to  erect  a  palisade  around  the 
meeting  house  to  "  prevent  any  danger  that  may  come  unto  this  town 
by  any  assault  of  the  Indians." — Town  Records. 

2 


10 

not  gaze  upon  a  cheerful  and  animated  throng  like 
this — but  the  calm,  stern  resolve  was  there.  The 
countenances  of  the  care-worn  worshippers  express- 
ed their  high  purposes.  They  were  men  who  had 
drank  too  deeply  at  the  inspiring  fountains  of  truth, 
to  quail  in  a  determination  to  maintain  it ;  and  as 
they  bowed  in  reverence  before  the  altar  of  God, 
their  lofty  spirits  kindled  into  a  flame  of  enthusiasm 
which  carried  them  triumphantly  onward  to  the 
accomplishment  of  their  glorious  designs. 

Among  the  first  objects  of  our  ancestors  was  the 
establishment  of  a  Church.  Their  first  meeting 
house  was  situated  in  front  of  the  spot  on  which 
the  Derby  Academy  now  stands.  It  was  surround- 
ed by  a  palisade,  and  surmounted  by  a  belfry  with 
a  bell.  Around  it,  upon  the  declivities  of  the  hill 
the  dead  were  buried  ;  where,  after  a  repose  of 
nearly  two  centuries,  they  were  disturbed  by  the 
march  of  improvement.  The  meeting  house  is  gone 
— the  soil  upon  which  it  rested  is  gone — the  worship- 
pers are  gone.  Not  a  solitary  monument  points 
out  the  interesting  spot  where  were  deposited  the 
remains  of  the  brave,  the  virtuous,  the  learned 
who  laid  the  foundations  of  our  social  improvements 
and  religious  blessings.^ 

In  the  year  1638,  we  find  evidence  of  a  military 


1  The  remains  of  Rev.  Peter  Hohart  and  Rev.  John  Norton  were 
removed  many  years  since,  from  the  place  of  tlioir  original  interment, 
to  the  burial  ground  in  tlie  rear  of  the  meeting  house  of  the  First  Par- 
ish, where  a  sitn[)le  yet  appropriate  monument  was  erected  to  their 
memory  by  their  successor,  the  excellent  Gay.  The  remains  of  such 
others  as  were  disinterred  on  the  removal  of  the  Hill,  were  deposited 
in  the  same  burial  ground  by  the  Selectmen. 


11 

organization  of  the  inhabitants.     Suitable  provision 
was  made  for  tlic  defence  of  the  settlement. 

The  local  advantages  of  the  town,  its  proximity 
to  the  metropolis  of  the  Colony,  and  the  industry 
and  enterprise  of  the  inhabitants  contributed  much 
to  their  prosperity,  until  the  year  1645,  when  an 
unfortunate  controversy  arose  among  them  respect- 
ing military  affairs.  'The  cause  of  the  difficulty  was 
the  election  of  a  captain  of  the  company  of  militia. 
Anthony  Eames,  who  had  been  Lieutenant,  was 
first  chosen,  and  was  presented  to  be  commissioned 
by  the  Council.  Before  this  was  accomplished,  a 
dissatisfaction  arose  with  Eames,  and  Bozoan  Allen, 
a  man  of  considerable  influence  in  town  affairs,  was 
selected.  Eames  and  Alien  had  both  been  deputies 
in  the  General  Court.  A  commission  was  refused 
to  both  the  candidates.  In  the  mean  time  the 
subject  was  made  a  question  for  discussion  in  the 
church,  but  a  majority  of  the  inhabitants,  and  among 
them  their  pastor,  adhered  to  Allen.  The  military 
company  paraded  under  his  command,  and,  on  ac- 
count of  some  alleged  misrepresentations,  Eames 
was  threatened  with  excommunication  from  the 
Church.  He  made  complaint  to  the  magistrates, 
four  of  whom  met  in  Boston  and  issued  warrants 
against  five  persons  whom  they  supposed  to  be  the 
principal  offenders.  Others  were  afterwards  arrest- 
ed, and  on  their  refusal  to  give  bonds  for  their 
appearance  at  Court,  two  were  committed.  The 
General  Court  being  assembled  before  the  Court  of 
Assistants,  Mr.  Hobart  and  his  friends,  about  ninety 


12 

in  number,  presented  a  petition  to  the  former,  set- 
ting forth  the  arrest  and  commitment  of  their  towns- 
men, as  thej  alleged,  for  words  spoken  concerning  the 
power  of  the  General  Court,  and  their  liberties,  and 
the  liberties  of  the  Church.  The  petitioners  were 
required  to  designate  the  magistrate  or  magistrates 
whom  they  declared  guilty  of  infractions  upon  the 
popular  rights.  They  then  charged  Deputy  Gov- 
ernor Winthrop  wdth  exercising  too  much  power. 

Upon  this  allegation,  a  full  hearing  was  had  ;  and 
the  decision  was,  that  it  was  not  sustained.  The 
petition  was  voted  false  and  scandalous,  by  magis- 
trates and  deputies  ;  but  the  latter  would  not  agree 
to  any  censure.  After  much  discussion  and  repeat- 
ed conferences  resulting  in  no  decisive  measures, 
the  magistrates  proposed  to  refer  the  matter  to  the 
elders.  This  course  was  not  assented  to  by  the 
deputies.  They  were  unwilling,  and  even  voted 
not  to  impose  any  fines  upon  the  petitioners  unless 
the  party  which  adhered  to  Eames  were  also  fined, 
a  disposition  of  the  matter  which  would  have  been 
quite  as  equitable,  probably,  as  if  one  of  the  parties 
had  alone  been  adjudged  to  bear  the  whole  weight 
of  the  displeasure  of  the  government — and  upon  a 
rule  too,  which  if  adopted,  in  many  of  the  cases  of 
obstinate  controversy,  would  often  subserve  the  ends 
of  justice.  The  final  decision  of  the  magistrates, 
with  the  concurrence  of  the  deputies,  was  to  impose 
fines  upon  the  petitioners,  Lieut.  Eames  to  be  under 
admonition,  and  the  Deputy  Governor  Winthrop 
to  be    acquitted  of  all   that    was    alleged    against 


13 

him.  The  Duputy  Governor  delivered  on  tlic  occa- 
sion of  his  acquiiial,  a  very  impressive  speech  upon 
the  authority  of  magistrates  and  the  liherties  of  the 
people.  If  we  judge  from  the  historians  of  tlie  time, 
Mr.  Hobart  and  a  majority  of  our  citizens  appear  to 
have  carried  their  liberal  principles  to  such  an  ex- 
tent as  to  have  endangered  all  wholesome  authority; 
but  the  reluctance  of  the  deputies  to  impose  fines 
leads  us  to  believe  that  the  point  of  controversy  was 
not  the  immediate  question  which  excited  it,  but 
the  more  general  prmciples  involved  in  the  discus- 
sion of  the  powers  of  magistrates  in  reference  to 
the  rights  of  the  people.  Upon  these  important 
principles,  we  have  no  reason  to  doubt  that  our 
Pastor  entertained  liberal  and  correct  opinions,  yet 
he  might  have  been  indiscreet  in  his  endeavours  to 
promote  them. 

But  the  popular  feeling  had  become  so  strong 
that  the  authority  of  the  marshal  in  levying  the  fines 
upon  the  Pastor  and  his  friends  w^as  resisted  ;  and 
Mr.  Hobart  was  upon  information,  summoned  to 
appear  before  the  Governor  and  Council.  He  de- 
clined appearing,  and  by  this  course  compelled  the 
government  to  arrest  him.  He  protested  against 
this  course  however,  declaring  "  that  he  could  never 
know  wherefore  he  was  fined  except  it  were  for  pe- 
titioning" and  "that  if  he  had  broken  any  wholesome 
law  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  of  England  he  was 
ready  to  submit  to  censure."  He  was  bound  over 
to  the  Court  of  Assistants.  He  there  appeared  and 
again  claimed  to  know  what  law  he  had  violated. 


^WStf  ' 


14 

He  was  told  after  much  iaiport unity,  that  ^Hhe  oath 
he  had  taken  was  a  law  to  him  ;  and  besides  the 
law  of  God  which  we  were  to  judge  by  in  case  of  a 
defect  of  an  express  law."  Mr.  Hobart  replied  that 
the  law  of  God  admitted  various  interpretations. 
He  demanded  to  be  tried  by  a  jury.  The  result  of 
this  trial  was  the  imposition  of  a  second  fine  on  Mr. 
Hobart.  On  a  subsequent  occasion,  when  he  at- 
tended the  General  Court  with  the  elders,  to  give 
their  advice  respecting  public  affairs,  he  was  advis- 
ed by  the  Governor  to  retire,  because  he  had  so 
much  opposed  authority  ;  and  in  1647,  when  on  a 
visit  to  Boston,  to  attend  the  solemnization  of  a 
marriage,  the  bridegroom  being  of  Hingham,  he  was 
invited  to  preach.  The  magistrates  sent  to  him  to 
forbear,  for  this  among  other  reasons — ''  that  his 
spirit  had  been  discovered  to  be  adverse  to  our  ec- 
clesiastical and  civil  government,   and   he  was  a 

BOLD  MAN  AND  WOULD   SPEAK  HIS  MIND."  ^ 

This  controversy  was  doubtless  injurious  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  town  ;  but  the  reputation  of  the 
prominent  individuals  engaged  in  it  does  not  appear 
to  have  suffered.  Joshua  Hobart,  one  of  the  pop- 
ular leaders,  was  afterwards  elected  Speaker  of  the 
House  of  Deputies,  and  his  brother,  the  Pastor  of 
the  Church,  was  esteemed  worthy  of  a  most  honor- 
able notice  in  the  Magnalia  of  Cotton  Matlier. 

The  first  regular  account  of  the  expenditures  of 
the  town,  which  is   preserved,  is  that  of  the  year 

1  Winthrop  IL  2,21  to  236,  255,  278,  305,  313.     Also   notes  to  the 
same  by  Savage. 


15 

1662.  The  items  show  an  an;gregatc  expense  for 
that  year  of  about  tliirty-six  pounds.  The  first  was 
to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  Pastor  of  the  Clnncli 
at  the  Synod,  the  next  to  compensate  the  Deputies 
in  the  General  Court,  and  the  next  to  an  individual 
for  "  maintaining  the  drum."  In  tlie  same  account 
are  inchjded  expenses  on  the  School  House  and  for 
the  Poor.i  Upon  this  first  page  of  the  records  of 
our  financial  affairs,  we  find  evidence  of  the  piety, 
the  regard  for  learning,  to  law,  to  the  maintenance 
of  a  military  force,  for  which  our  ancestors  were 
distinguished.  Let  us  be  admonished  by  those  de- 
caying memorials,  to  look  well  to  their  example, 
and  in  the  height  of  our  prosperity  not  to  disregard 
any  of  the  means  by  which  learning,  religion,  free- 
dom, truth  are  to  be  maintained. 

In  the  year  1675,   New  England  was  filled  with 
alarm  by  the   conspiracy  of  the   celebrated   Indian 
Sachem,    Philip  of  Pokanoket.     He   had  laid   his 
plans  with  all  the  skill  of  an  accomplished  warrior, 
and   he  executed  them   with  such   fearful  velocity, 
that  it  was  apprehended  by  the  simultaneous  attacks 
which  he  caused  to  be  made  in  different  places  that 
the  whole  country  would  be  laid  desolate.     The 
smoking  ruins  of  villages   exhibited  proof  that  the 
master  spirit  of  Philip  could  be  satisfied  only  by  a 
war  of  extermination.     In   this   town,   three   forts 
were    erected    and    garrison    houses    established. 
Troops  were  furnished  to  make  up  the  levy  which 
the  united  colonies  had  agreed  on  for  a  prompt  and 

1  See  Note  C. 


16 

vigorous  attempt  to  repulse  their  infuriated  ene- 
mies. The  danger  was  brought  home  to  the  very 
doors  of  our  citizens.  One  of  them  was  slain  in 
the  south  part  of  this  town,  and  five  dwelling  houses 
were  destroyed  by  fire.  But  the  skill  and  bravery 
of  the  colonial  troops  were  an  over-match  even  for 
the  gallant  Philip ;  and  the  noble  chieftain  fell  a 
victim  to  the  storm  which  his  own  unconquerable 
spirit  had  kindled.  He  fell  amid  the  sepulchres  of 
his  fathers,  in  defence  of  w^hat  he  considered  to  be 
his  dearest  rights,  and  as  justly  entitled  to  the  name 
of  a  patriot  warrior,  as  many  others  whose  achieve- 
ments have  inspired  the  eloquence  of  the  orator,  or 
been  celebrated  in  the  songs  of  the  bard. 

A  short  time  after  the  close  of  Philip's  war,  the 
town  suffered  a  severe  loss  in  the  death  of  the  ven- 
erated Pastor,  Hobart.  He  died  January  20,  1678 
— 9.  Mr.  Hobart  was  a  scholar  distinguished  for 
intellectual  vigor,  glowing  zeal,  indefatigable  indus- 
try and  various  acquirements.  Towards  the  close 
of  life,  his  mind  seemed  to  rise  to  higher  efforts  in 
the  discharge  of  professional  duty  ;  and  the  discours- 
es which  have  been  preserved  bear  strong  evidence 
of  that  boldness  of  denunciation  and  closeness  of 
application  which  attracted  the  notice  and  secured 
the  approbation  of  the  most  learned  theologians,  as 
well  as  of  his  ow^n  flock. ^ 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Hobart  was  the  amiable 
and  devout  John  Norton. ^  He  was  ordained  by 
Mr.  Hobart.     It  was  during  the  ministry  of  Mr. 

1  See  Note  D.  2  gee  Note  E. 


17 

Norton,  that  the  increasing  population  of  the  town 
required  the  erection  of  a  new  meeting  house.    The 
materials  of  the  old  house  were  used  in  its  erection 
and  it  was   completed   and  the    services  of  public 
worship   w^ere   j)erformed    in   it   for  the   first  time 
January  8th,  1681-2.^     In  this  house  we  now  are, 
— the    oldest    temple    for    public    worship   which 
remains  in  New  Enghmd, — the  last  monument  of 
the  plain,  unostentatious,  yet  durable  architecture  of 
the   Pilgrims.     It  was  here,   a  century  and  a  half 
ago,  that  the  mild  exhortations  of  Norton — it  was 
here,   that  the  persuasive  reasoning  and   profound 
learning  of  the  venerable  Gay,  were  listened  to  by  a 
crowd  of  admiring  worshippers. 

Before  the  year  1721,  a  new  precinct  was  formed 
in  Cohasset,  and  in  that  year.  Rev.  Nehemiah 
Hobart,  a  grandson  of  our  own  Hobart,  was  set- 
tled as  pastor  of  the  Church.  A  third  meeting 
house  was  erected  in  the  South  Parish  in  1742,  and 
their  first  pastor  was  that  eminent  divine  Dr.  Shute. 
There  was  no  increase  of  the  number  of  religious 
Societies  until  within  the  present  century.^  Since 
its  commencement  four  have  been  formed  of  differ- 
ent denominations  of  Christians,  which,  with  two 
added  to  the  number  in  Cohasset,  make  the  number 
of  religious  societies  nine,  within  the  original  limits 
of  Hingham. 

In  running  back  through  the  history  of  this  town, 
we  find  evidence  of  the  military  services  of  its  citi- 
zens at  a  very  early  date.     In  the  war  against  the 

1  See  Note  F.  2  See  Note  G. 

3 


18 

Pequocis,  in  1637 — in  Philip's  war  of  1675 — in  the 
expedition  to  Canada  under  Sir  William  Phipps,  in 
1 690,  troops  were  furnished  from  this  town.  In  the 
expedition  to  Canada,  Thomas  Andrews  was  a  Cap- 
tain, but  he  together  w  ith  most  of  the  soldiers  per- 
ished either  by  sickness  or  in  battle.  In  the  war 
with  France,  commenced  in  1744,  some  of  the 
citizens  of  this  town  were  in  the  expedition  to  Nova 
Scotia ;  and  in  the  wars  against  the  French  and 
Indians  at  a  subsequent  period,  a  large  number  of 
troops  enlisted  and  distinguished  themselves  by  their 
bravery  and  good  conduct.  At  the  dreadful  massa- 
cre of  Fort  William  Henry,  several  of  our  townsmen 
were  present,  some  of  whom  fell  victims  to  the 
barbarity  of  their  foes,  while  others  fortunately 
escaped  to  render  still  more  important  services  to 
their  country  in  the  great  contest  for  Independence. i 
In  tracing  down  our  history  to  the  period  ap- 
j)roaching  the  American  Revolution,  we  find,  every 
where,  evidence  of  the  most  vigilant  regard  for  those 
high  principles  of  sound  morals  and  pure  religion 
which  constituted  the  strength  of  the  American 
character.  Whatever  differences  of  opinion  existed 
as  to  the  expediency  of  subsequent  measures,  it  must 
be  conceded,  that  the  labors  of  a  learned  clergy  had 
an  excellent  influence  on  the  public  mind  to  form  it 
for  honorable  purposes.  Gay,  Brown  and  Shute 
were  the  pastors  of  the  churches,  than  whom  few 
could  claim  to  be  instructed  by  more  learned,  elo- 
quent or  popular  divines.     They  lived  in  the  dis- 

1  See  Note  11. 


19 


charge  of  ministerial  duties  for  periods  of  uncommon 
length,  and  left,  we  believe,  in  the  virtues  of  the 
peoi)le,  the  most  beautiful  memorials  of  tiieir  worth. 

Amid  the  gloom  of  long  periods  of  trial,  disaster 
and  suffering,  to  which  1  have  alluded,  a  brighter 
light  was  breaking  upon  the  horizon.  The  spirit 
which  guided  and  sustained  the  Pilgrim,  burned  fer- 
vently in  the  breast  of  the  Patriot.  Come  in  what 
form  it  might,  whether  of  ecclesiastical  edicts,  or 
political  enactments, — despotism  over  mind,  en- 
croachments upon  the  rights  of  property  or  restric- 
tions upon  those  of  the  citizen,  were  not  to  be  tol- 
erated by  those  who  had  been  educated  in  the  school 
of  the  Puritans. 

Your  records.  Fellow  Citizens,  bear  the  most 
honorable  testimony  that  your  fathers  were  quick  to 
perceive  and  prompt  to  resist  the  first  advances  of 
Great  Britain  towards  an  infraction  upon  their  rights 
and  privileges.  They  discussed  well — they  delib- 
erated well — they  acted  well.  The  alarm  at  Lex- 
ington kindled  a  flame  which  was  seen  and  felt  by 
a  large  majority  of  your  citizens.  Money,  provi- 
sions, troops  were  furnished  to  the  full  extent  of  tlie 
requisitions  of  the  government.  There  was  no  stint 
— no  close  calculation — no  pusillanimous  delays.  At 
Bunker  Hill,  in  Canada,  at  Crown  Point,  Brandy- 
wine,  Saratoga,  Monmouth,  Rhode  Island,  in  South 
Carolina  and  at  the  brilliant  close  of  the  contest  at 
Yorktown,  there  were  citizens  of  this  town,  who 
discharged  their  duties  to  their  country  as  brave  men 
and  patriots    should    discharge    them.     Several  of 


20 

them  sealed  their  devotion  to  liberty  with  their 
blood.  At  Brandywine,  the  gallant  Andrews,  after 
receiving  a  bullet  wound  which  partially  disabled 
him,  pressed  forward  at  the  head  of  his  company 
into  the  hottest  of  the  fight,  until  wounded  by  a 
cannon  shot  which  terminated  his  life.  His  valor, 
on  that  occasion,  was  the  subject  of  admiration  ;  it 
attracted  the  notice  of  the  general  officers  and  par- 
ticularly of  La  Fayette,  who  on  his  visit  to  this 
country  ten  years  since,  spoke  of  it  with  grateful 
recollection.  It  was  to  an  accomplished  officer  of 
this  town,  that  Washington  assigned  the  merited 
honor  of  receiving  the  submission  of  the  royal  army 
at  Yorktown,  a  suitable  recompense  for  the  manner 
in  which  he  was  compelled  to  surrender  to  the  Brit- 
ish forces  at  Charleston.  It  was  also  to  another 
citizen  of  this  town,  whose  fine  talents  were  in  a 
measure  lost  to  his  country  by  his  decease  in  the 
meridian  of  life,  was  reserved  the  honor  of  bearing 
to  this  country  from  our  Commissioners  in  France 
the  definitive  treaty  of  peace  in  1783.^ 

We  feel  as  if  we  were  connected  with  the  entire 
past  history  of  the  services  and  sacrifices  of  our 
citizens  by  the  living  members  of  the  patriot  bands 
who  achieved  our  independence.  I  see  before  me 
those  who  devoted  the  flower  of  their  youth  to  the 
great  cause  of  freedom.  I  see  those  who  periled 
every  thing  in  battle  after  battle  for  your  benefit,  and 
who  remain  the  honorable  and  honored  benefactors 
of  their  country  and  of  mankind.     I  see  those  who 

1  John  Thaxter,  Esq. 


21 


ill  the  wilds  of  Canada,  under  the  ])uiniiii^  snn  of 
the  South,  both  upon  the  ocean  and  the  land,  amid 
victory  and  defeat,  bore  up  the  standard  of  liberty — 
and  who  when  thrown  into  bondage  whether  in  the 
prisons  of  England  or  Nova  Scotia,  or  in  that  hated 
receptacle  of  brave  men,  the  very  name  of  which 
will  be  handed  down  to  after  times  with  execration 
— the  Jersey  Prison  Ship — did  not  yield  in  the  main- 
tenance of  the  principles  to  which  they  had  pledged 
their  lives  and  fortunes.^ 

A  few  years,  and  the  remnant  of  the  heroes  of 
the  Revolution  will  be  gone  from  us  forever.  They 
linger  yet  to  enjoy  the  gratitude  of  a  whole  republic 
and  to  know  that  there  are  those  among  us,  before 
iiSj  descendants  of  our  pilgrim  fathers,  who  have 
been  just  to  their  merits,  and  who  amid  the  clamor 
of  parties,  have  risen  above  their  debasing  influences, 
and  have  maintained  the  cause  and  spoken  of  the 
achievements  of  the  soldier  of  liberty  in  the  loftiest 
strains  of  eloquence. 

In  the  midst  of  our  revolutionary  struggle  we  find 
our  citizens  assembling  with  great  deliberation  and 
discussing  the  proposed  Constitution  of  the  State, 
to  which  they  gave  their  support,  thus  justifying  the 
character  which  they  have  uniformly  maintained  of 
adhering  to  the  principles  of  well  regulated  liberty. 
And  in  the  subsequent  events  which  disturbed  the 
peace  of  this  Commonw^ealth,  when  the  radical  and 
levelling  spirit  of  Shays  and  his  associates  threatened 
the  subversion  of  all  law  and  authority,  the  energy 

1  See  Note  I. 


22 

and  prudence  of  Gen.  Lincoln  with  many  others  of 
his  townsmen,  were  called  in  requisition  and  were 
successfully  exerted  in  maintaining  the  laws  and 
securing  the  safety  of  the  State. 

Since  these  events,  of  which  I  have  spoken,  the 
condition  of  the  country  has  generally  been  such  as 
to  contribute  to  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  this 
town.  The  interruption  of  a  short  war  was  percep- 
tible to  a  small  extent  upon  its  progress  in  improve- 
ment, and  we  find  it  at  the  end  of  200  years  from 
its  settlement  distinguished  for  its  social,  literary, 
religious  advantages,  and  enjoying  the  rich  fruits  of 
the  intelligence,  enterprize  and  valor  of  its  founders. 

I  leave  these  topics  of  local  interest,  blended  as 
they  are  with  the  traditions  and  histories  which  sug- 
gest to  the  reflecting  mind  the  most  delightful  as- 
sociations, to  speak  of  others  which  the  occasion 
presses  upon  my  attention. 

In  looking  over  our  annals,  and  in  reflecting  upon 
the  position  in  which  we  now  stand  in  relation  to 
the  whole  country,  we  feel  it  to  be  a  subject  of  con- 
gratulation that  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  and 
their  descendants  have  contributed  so  well  to  the 
general  stock  of  wisdom  and  to  the  great  principles 
upon  which  rest  the  hopes  of  posterity. 

At  an  early  period  our  Hobart  scattered  through- 
out the  country  a  celebrated  progeny  of  divines, 
several  of  whom  were  distinguished  for  their  learn- 
ing and  eloquence.  The  late  eminent  Bishop  of 
New  York  was  descended  from  a  brother  of  our  first 
minister,  and  was  one  of  the  most  influential  advo- 


23 

catcs  for  Episcopacj  in  ihc  new  world  ;  and  yet  tlio 
ancestors  of  this  distinj^uisiied  divine  were  anion^ 
the  boklest,  most  persevering  oj)[)onents  of  this 
Church  that  existed  in  New  Enghnid. 

The  numerous  families  of  Cushings,  wherever 
found,  can  trace  their  origin  to  this  village.  The 
branch  which  flourished  in  Scituatc  was  distinguish- 
ed for  its  production  of  eminent  men.  1  believe 
this  family  has  furnished  more  judicial  ofiicers  for 
the  State  and  Union  than  any  other  which  exists. 
They  were  as  distinguished  for  patriotism  as  for 
judicial  learning,  and  some  of  them  stood  in  the 
front  rank  of  their  countrymen  wath  Washington  and 
Adams,  Henry  and  Jefferson,  either  in  times  of  awful 
hazard,  or  in  those  of  prodigious  civil  labor  which 
laid  the  foundations  of  our  country's  policy. 

We  recognize  with  pride  borne  upon  our  annals 
the  name  of  Otis.  The  enthusiastic  patriot,  the 
brilliant  orator  who  was  among  the  first  to  warn  his 
countrymen  of  their  danger  in  the  stormy  period 
preceding  the  Revolution,  was  a  descendant  of  the 
associates  of  Peter  Hobart  in  founding  this  town. 
Is  it  not  possible  that  something  of  that  ardent  love 
of  freedom  and  strong  aversion  to  despotic  power 
which  have  distinguished  the  descendants  may  have 
been  derived  from  an  intelligent  and  independent 
ancestry  ?  The  Gilmans  and  Folsoms  of  New 
Hampshire,  the  Strongs  of  Northampton,  the 
Spragues  of  Duxbury  and  Rhode  Island,  the  Lin- 
colns  of  Worcester  and  Maine,  the  Pratts  of  New 
York,  eminent  as  civilians,  jurists,  divines  and  pat- 


24 

riots  all  can  trace  their  origin  to  this  place.  And 
we  can  claim  the  honor,  and  high  honor  it  is,  that 
here  was  the  birth  place  of  the  mother  of  the  illus- 
trious man  who  was  the  first  to  place  his  bold  and 
manly  signature  to  the  Declaration  of  Independence.^ 
It  would  be  interesting  to  trace  out  not  only  the 
connecting  links  which  unite  us  to  an  ancestry  dis- 
tinguished for  the  virtues  which  hallow  their  mem- 
ory, but  to  follow  out  the  developement  of  their 
excellent  qualities  among  their  numerous  descend- 
ants. We  should  furnish  by  such  a  labor  no  barren 
genealogies.  We  could  claim  no  alliance  it  is  true 
with  royalty — we  desire  none.  We  should  not  care 
to  plunge  into  the  records  of  heraldry  for  the  evi- 
dence of  the  noble  origin  of  our  fathers.  The  pages 
of  history,  the  institutions  which  their  wisdom  and 
piety  and  valor  contributed  to  establish,  give  them 
clearer,  more  enduring  titles  to  fame.  The  reced- 
ing wilderness,  the  extended  villages,  the  schools  of 
learning,  the  temples  of  piety,  the  institutions  of  be- 
nevolence, all  speak  their  high  eulogy.  Could  we 
ransack  the  antiquarian  repositories  of  the  old  and 
new  world — could  we  indulge  the  imagination  in  its 
highest  flights — could  we  picture  for  ourselves  the 
character  of  such  ancestors  as  we  should  choose  to 
emblazon  on  the  records  of  our  origin — we  could 
find  none  shedding  more  glory  upon  the  names  we 
bear,  than  that  noble  race  of  men,  the  Puritan 
Fathers  of  New  England.  Braver  men  can  be 
found  no  where  in  the  annals  of  heroism — religion 

1  See  Note  J. 


lias  had  no  warmer  votaries— country  no  patriots 
more  devoted.  Standing  amid  their  s('j)nlchres,  may 
we  drink  deep  of  the  inspiration  of  the  place — may 
we  resolve  to  maintain  their  principles  and  be  just 
to  tiieir  fame. 

We  have  reason  to  r(;joice  to  day,  for  what  our 
ancestors  did  for  the  cause  of  Education. 

In  the  year  1647,  a  Colonial  Statute  was  passed 
relating  to  education,  the  preamble  to  which  cannot 
too  often  be  recited,  and  with  some  allowances  for 
religious  prejudices,  too  much  admired.  It  w^as  in 
these  w^ords — ''  It  being  one  chief  project  of  Satan 
to  keep  men  from  the  knowledge  of  the  Scripture, 
as  in  former  times  keeping  them  in  unknown 
tongues,  so  in  these  latter  times  by  pursuading  from 
the  use  of  tongues,  that  so  at  least  the  true  sense 
and  meaning  of  the  original  might  be  clouded  and 
corrupted  with  false  glosses  of  deceivers ;  to  the 
end  that  learning  may  not  be  buried  in  the  graves 
of  our  forefathers,  in  Church  and  Commonwealth, 
the  Lord  assisting  our  endeavours  : 

It  is  therefore  ordered  by  this  Court  and  authori- 
ty thereof;  that  every  township  within  this  juris- 
diction, after  the  Lord  hath  increased  them  to  the 
number  of  fifty  householders,  shall  then  forthwith 
appoint  one  within  their  towns  to  teach  all  such 
children  as  shall  resort  to  him  to  write  and  read." 
By  the  same  Statute,  towns  having  one  hundred 
families  were  required  to  set  up  a  grammar  school. 

This  Statute  was  enforced  at  a  very  eaily  date 
in  this  town.  Before  Philip's  war,  a  Latin  and 
4 


26 

Greek  School  was  established,  and  since  that  peri- 
od there  have  been  teachers,  educated  at  some  one 
of  the  universities,  with  very  slight  if  any  intermis- 
sion. About  seventy  of  the  natives  of  thistownhave 
been  educated  at  the  Universities  ;  and  many  of  them 
have  acquired  reputations  in  the  various  professions 
highly  honorable  to  their  character.  Few  lawyers 
had,  in  their  day,  attained  to  greater  distinction 
than  Pratt  and  the  elder  Lincoln  ;  few  divines  pos- 
sessed more  acuteness  or  learning  than  the  Hobarts  ; 
and  the  name  of  Hersey  is  a  conspicuous  ornament 
to  the  medical  profession. 

The  value  which  has  been  set  upon  learning  in 
this  place  is  illustrated  by  the  great  liberality  with 
which  provision  is  made  for  the  support  of  Free 
Schools.  The  beautiful  and  commodious  edifices 
which  meet  our  eyes  in  every  section  of  the  town, 
the  crowd  of  youth  w^ho  resort  to  them  for  the  pur- 
poses of  education,  and  the  fruits  which  we  discover 
around  us,  are  proofs  that  the  seeds  of  learning  have 
been  sown  in  a  productive  soil,  and  show  that,  in 
this  point  at  least,  we  are  acting  up  to  the  require- 
ments of  duty,  and  that  a  determined  spirit  exists 
that  the  truth  shall  not  be  corrupted  with  false 
glosses  of  deceivers.  The  characters  of  Derby — 
and  of  the  Herseys,  who  laid  here,  or  at  the  neigh- 
boring university,  the  foundations  for  valuable  in- 
struction, exhibit  in  a  more  striking  light  individual 
cases  of  the  generous  spirit  which  the  claims  of 
learning  have  excited  in  benevolent  hearts. 

Indeed  without  learning  what  would  be  freedom  ? 


27 

Every  American  citizen  should  reflect  niucli  iijuju 
this  question.  Let  him  study  well  the  history  not 
only  of  particular  communities  but  of  the  >\lK)ie 
country.  Learning  is  essential  to  freedom.  Nei- 
ther can  stand  alone.  The  ancient  rej)ublics  lost 
their  liberty  when  they  extinguished  the  light  of 
learning.  When  their  orators  became  flatterers  and 
their  poets  parasites,  liberty  degenerated  into  licen- 
tiousness. We  must  be  careful  then  not  to  be  se- 
duced from  the  maintenance  of  those  Free  Schools 
in  which  the  fathers  of  New  England  formed  that 
stern  simplicity  and  strength  of  character  which 
constitute  the  pillars  of  our  social  system.  With 
comparatively  few  advantages  for  the  cultivation  of 
the  mind,  called  continually  by  professional  duties 
and  obligations  from  the  enticements  of  study  into 
the  field  of  active  exertion,  in  the  common  business 
of  life,  w  ere  they  not  as  ripe  scholars,  as  profound 
theologians,  as  sagacious  statesmen,  as  those  of  our 
own  times  ?  Few  though  they  were  in  number, 
did  they  leave  upon  the  age  less  permanent  impres- 
sions of  their  character  than  the  scholars  of  the 
present  day  ?  Was  their  morality  less  pure,  were 
their  political  opinions  less  sound,  their  religion  less 
elevating  in  its  influence  than  now  ?  Did  infidelity 
take  deeper  root  when  the  fountains  of  science  were 
found  only  here  and  there  sending  forth  their  re- 
freshing streams  in  the  wilderness,  than  now,  when 
they  appear  to  flow  in  upon  us  like  the  ocean  waves? 
We  think  not ;  and  we  believe  we  can  find  the  se- 
cret of  all  their   success  in  that  pure   morality  and 


28 

that  lofty  religious  principle  which  were  blended 
with  the  genial  influences  of  learning,  to  form  the 
plain,  hardy,  yet  noble  simplicity  of  their  republican 
character.  Do  we  not  need  this  in  our  own  times  ? 
Do  we  not  want  the  stern  principles  of  the  Puritans 
to  combine  their  power  with  our  multiplied  literary 
advantages  ?  We  wish  to  see  it  imparted  to  every 
species  of  literary  effort.  We  wish  our  poets  to  be 
inspired  by  it ;  let  it  restrain  the  wandering  pen 
of  fiction — let  it  warm  the  eloquent  appeals  of  the 
statesman,  and  sink  deep  in  the  heart  and  be  ever 
falling  from  the  lips  of  the  divine. 

We  have  reason  to  day  to  rejoice  for  what  our 
ancestors  did  for  the  cause  of  Religion.  They  al- 
ways supported  a  learned  ministry  ;  and  the  unpre- 
cedented length  of  ministerial  services  of  the  several 
pastors,  undoubtedly  contributed  much  to  impart 
stability  and  influence  to  their  religious  institutions. 

Of  all  the  pastors  who  have  officiated  at  the  vari- 
ous churches  in  the  present  town  limits,  but  four 
have  deceased,  Hobart,  Norton  and  Gay  of  the 
First,  and  Shute  of  the  Second  Parish.  The  three 
first  mentioned,  lived  in  the  ministry  in  this  place, 
upwards  of  150  years — and  for  the  152  years  from 
the  date  of  the  settlement  of  the  town,  the  church 
w^as  destitute  of  a  pastor  but  one  year  eight  months 
and  a  few  days.  The  ministry  of  Mr.  Hobart  was 
upwards  of  43  years  in  length,  Mr.  Norton's  about 
38  years,  and  Dr.  Gay's  nearly  70  years.  The 
successor  of  Dr.  Gay  is  still  living ;  and  it  is  now 
nearly  half  a  century  since  he  was  ordained  pastor 


20 


of  this  cliurcli.  Dr.  Sliutc  was  pastor  of  ilic  Second 
Church  56  jcars,  aiul  piMlbriiuMl  liis  j)rofessioiial 
duties  for  the  whole  of  that  period  except  two  years. 
His  successor  is  still  living.^  Whatever  differences 
of  opinion  may  exist  now  in  relation  to  religious 
tenets,  it  must  be  conceded,  I  think,  that  the  talents, 
character  and  long  services  of  the  clergy,  have  exert- 
ed a  most  salutary  influence  over  the  minds  of  the 
people. 

When  a  man  like  Hobart,  w  hose  leading  trait  was 
that  of  *'  a  bold  man  who  would  speak  his  mind," 
and  who  rejected  the  authority  both  of  Church  and 
State,  when  attempted  to  be  exerted  to  interfere  with 
the  popular  rights — when  a  man  like  him  labored 
for  the  largest  part  of  half  a  century  to  promote  the 
religious  welfare  of  a  people,  an  impression  must 
have  been  left  upon  their  minds  which  would  not 
cease  to  be  felt  through  a  long  series  of  years.  In 
the  field  which  had  been  broken  up  with  so  bold  a 
hand,  the  mild  and  conciliatory  spirit  of  his  succes- 
sor was  calculated  to  produce  the  rich  fruits  of  har- 
mony and  peace.  And  then  again  when  the  strong 
intellectual  powers  and  commanding  influence  of 
the  learned  Gay,  (whose  praise  was  upon  every  lip, 
and  whose  piety  warmed  every  heart,)  were  devot- 
ed for  three  score  years  and  ten,  in  the  "  steady" 
promotion  of  pure  morals  and  a  religion  which  par- 
took neither  of  rank  enthusiasm  nor  wild  supersti- 
tion, his  pursuasive  arguments  could  not  fail  to 
scatter  blessings  innumerable  through  all  classes  of 

1  Sec  Note  K. 


30 

society.  During  a  portion  of  the  same  period ? 
in  which  the  brilliant  light  of  Gay  was  seen  and 
felt  in  all  the  churches,  religion  had  a  zealous,  ra- 
tional and  successful  support  from  the  strong  mind 
and  sound  scholarship  of  Dr.  Shute. 

Let  us  be  just  to  the  clergymen  of  former  days. 
They  were  to  us  not  merely  the  apostles  of  heav- 
enly truth,  but  the  eloquent  advocates  of  learning, 
the  friends  of  good  laws,  the  bold  defenders  of  civil 
and  religious  liberty. 

In  a  review  of  the  past,  it  would  be  ungrateful  to 
overlook  the  character,  services  and  sufferings  of 
another  class,  whose  cheerful  aid  and  encouraging 
voices  strengthened  the  arm  and  animated  the  hearts 
of  our  ancestors.  I  mean  the  mothers  of  New  Eng- 
land. Is  it  a  story  of  romance  that  their  paternal 
homes,  the  scenes  of  social  enjoyment  and  youthful 
pleasure — the  graves  of  their  fathers  could  not  di- 
vert their  minds  from  the  perilous  undertaking  of 
braving  the  storm  and  the  billows  of  the  ocean,  or 
from  the  still  more  hazardous  trials  in  a  gloomy  wil- 
derness where  the  foot  steps  of  civilization,  refine- 
ment, Christianity  had  never  trod — where  the  wild 
beast  and  the  untamed  savage  ranged  in  unrestricted 
freedom — and  all  this  in  obedience  to  the  dictates  of 
conscience  and  that  attachment  to  principle  which 
were  the  moving  causes  of  their  anxious  pilgrimage  ? 
My  friends,  there  is  no  fiction  in  this  representation 
— it  glows  in  the  liveliest  colors  of  history.  When 
calamity  hung  over  the  hopes  of  your  fathers  in  a 
heavy  cloud,  when  desolating  war  carried  dismay  to 


31 

the  stoutest  hearts,  and  the  smoke  of  your  vilhigos 
almost  darkened  tlie  horizon,  w  hen  the  war  cry  of 
the  savage  brought  terror  to  every  fireside  and  crush- 
ed tlie  hopes  of  affection  ahnost  to  des|)air,  it  was 
then  that  the  boldest  spirits  were  sustained,  encour- 
aged by  the  animating  tones  of  woman's  voice  and 
the  tender  solicitudes  of  woman's  hearts. 

Well  may  w^e  be  grateful  to  day  for  such  examples. 
Well  may  we  spread  our  feasts  of  thanksgiving 
for  such  exhibitions  of  the  power  of  the  female 
mind.  We  feel  that  New  England  derives  as  much 
of  true  glory  from  the  virtues  which  formed  and  em- 
bellished the  minds  of  her  youth — and  inspired  them 
with  an  undying  attachment  to  the  blessings  of 
freedom,  as  to  the  courage  by  which  her  institutions 
have  been  defended  and  those  blessings  preserved. 
The  stirring  associations  of  this  occasion,  the  events 
of  two  hundred  years,  with  all  their  instructive  ad- 
monitions, do  but  deepen  the  impression  that  patri- 
otism has  no  exclusive  character  ;  it  is  confined  to 
no  age  or  country  or  sex — and  if  it  shines  with  pe- 
culiar lustre  in  the  lives  of  the  great  and  the  good 
men  who  have  been  prompted  by  it  to  manly  action, 
to  brilliant  achievement,  whether  in  peace  or  war, 
it  has  appeared  with  attractions  none  the  less  lovely 
as  the  graceful  ornament  of  the  female  character. 

We  are  permitted  to  live  at  an  interesting  epoch 
— at  a  point  of  time  which  must  have  seemed  to  our 
ancestors,  far,  very  far  veiled  in  the  mists  of  futurity. 
Two  Hundred  Years  !  a  period  which  required  of 
them  strong  effort  of  the  imagination  to  embrace  in 


32 

all  its  interesting  aspects.  They  could  form  no  ac- 
curate conception  of  the  wonderful  revolutions  which 
would  in  this  period  agitate,  improve  and  embellish 
society.  The  visions  of  hope  might  occasionally 
animate  them,  but  the  gifts  of  prophecy  were  not 
theirs.  When  the  accomplished  Gay,  one  hundred 
years  ago,  within  these  walls  discoursed  of  the  events 
of  the  century  which  had  then  expired,  from  the 
w^ords  "  For  we  are  strangers  before  thee  and  so- 
journers, as  w  ere  all  our  fathers,"  we  can  form  some 
feeble  idea  of  the  impressive  scene.  One  solitary 
individual  then  lived,  (himself  more  than  a  century 
old,)  of  all  the  race  who  founded  this  settlement. 
He  alone  was  spared  to  bear  testimony  of  the  entire 
history  of  his  early  associates — of  their  unmeasured 
sacrifices.  He  must  have  seemed  like  a  monarch  of 
the  forest,  scathed  by  the  lightnings  and  torn  by  the 
rude  blasts  of  heaven,  standing  in  solitary  and  mel- 
ancholy grandeur  amid  the  ruins  of  his  affections, 
and  broken  hopes. i 

We  have  no  one  to  day  to  tell  us  of  the  events  of 
an  entire  century — to  form  the  connecting  link  be- 
tween the  present  and  the  pasi.^  We  have  no  living 
records,  none  but  history  and  tradition.  Nor  will  we 
shun  the  impressive  thought  that  of  all  this  throng 
of  youth,  who  come  here  to  day  in  all  the  buoyancy 
of  hope  and  elasticity  of  spirit,  to  do  honor  to  those 
to  whom  they  are  indebted  for  their  great  privileges, 
not  one  will  be  spared  in  the  rapid  current  of 
time  to  carry  to  those  who  may  gather  around  the 

1  See  Note  L.  2  See  Note  M. 


33 


altars  of  r(»lii;l()n  a  centurj  iirrirr,  ,111  arconnt  of  llic 
events  of  another  period  of  oiir  ])()Iitical  existence. 
Would  that  we  could  form  some  faint  conception  of 
the  events  and  the  circumstances  of  those  times. 
Would  that  we  could  know  something  of  the  mi- 
raculous works  of  science,  the  fruits  of  learning, 
the  progress  of  civilization,  which  a  century  is  des- 
tined to  produce.  But  infmite  wisdom  has  limited 
our  powers  and  shaped  them  for  wiser  ends.  It  is 
the  Past — the  glorious  Past  which  is  given  to  us 
for  instruction  and  admonition.  We  can  use  no 
magic  wand  to  call  up  the  scenes  of  futurity.  As 
we  glide  along  the  shining  stream  which  bears  us 
onward  to  one  common  ocean,  and  gaze  upon  the 
receding  lights  of  other  days,  we  can  learn  to  guide 
our  barks  in  safety  through  the  rushing  tides.  Voy- 
agers, as  we  are,  we  can  follow  with  ease  those 
wiio  precede  us,  and  in  our  turn  we  should  aspire, 
at  least,  to  cheer  and  guide  upon  their  course  those 
who  are  hurrying  rapidly  after  us. 

AVhat  are  the  duties  which  the  interesting  reflec- 
tions of  this  day  suggest  to  us  ?  What  is  the  voice 
of  the  past — what  the  demands  of  the  future  ? 

It  is  in  vain  that  we  glory  and  justly  glory  in  the 
progressive  emancipation  of  mind  from  the  trammels 
of  superstition,  and  the  degrading  state  of  a  blind 
submission  to  temporal  or  spiritual  authority,  if  we 
cannot  make  our  advantages  available  in  urging  on- 
ward the  great  cause  of  truth  and  freedom.  It  is 
in  vain  that  w^e  are  placed  upon  the  proud  intellec- 
tual eminence  of  modern  times,   thrown  up  by  the 


34 

accumulated  labors  of  gifted  spirits  in  past  ages,  if 
we  are  not  sagacious  to  perceive,  in  our  elevated  po- 
sition, the  wide  field  for  our  duties  as  citizens  and 
patriots.  We  have  a  solemn  charge  to  us  from  the 
virtuous  dead.  Their  sepulchres  are  eloquent  in 
admonition  and  warning.  Their  history  imparts  the 
brightest  hopes.  Their  fame  is  in  our  keeping. 
Their  institutions  are  to  be  maintained  by  our  pat- 
riotism. To  make  their  glory  ours,  their  sacrifices, 
if  need  be,  must  be  ours  also. 

The  demands  of  posterity  are  pressing  upon  us. 
They  will  claim  of  us  a  discharge  of  the  sacred  ob- 
ligations which  an  ancestry  whom  we  reverence,  a 
country  which  we  honor,  impose  on  us.  They  will 
look  to  this  point  of  time  as  an  era  from  which  to 
trace  far  reaching  views  of  the  duties  of  citizens, 
fresh  impulses  in  all  that  shall  elevate  the  moral  and 
intellectual  nature  of  man. 

We  will  resolve  to  day,  he^^e — in  view  of  the  graves 
of  the  illustrious  dead — around  the  altar  where  their 
prayers  ascended  in  devout  aspirations  to  God — in 
the  midst  of  the  young  and  the  beautiful,  who  repose 
their  best  hopes  under  the  shield  of  our  protection — 
that  we  will  be  true  to  our  high  responsibilities — 
that  we  will  guard  well  the  fame  and  defend  the 
principles  of  the  Puritan  Fathers  of  our  Country. 


NOTES 


NOTE  A,  TO  PAGE 


The  names  of  those  who  drew  house  lots  on  the  18th  of  September, 
1(535,  were  the  following  : 


1.  James  Cade  (Cady,) 

2.  Abraham  Martin, 

3.  William  Nolton  (Knowlton,) 

4.  John  Otis, 

5.  Thomas  Loring, 

6.  John  Strong, 

7.  David  Phippen, 

8.  Thomas  Andrews, 

9.  Joseph  Andrews, 

10.  William  Walton, 

11.  Richard  Betscome  (Betsham,] 

12.  Thomas  Wakelv, 

13.  William  Arnair(Arnold,) 

14.  Nicholas  Jacob, 

15.  Edmund  Hobart,  Jun. 


16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 
25. 
20. 
27. 
28. 
29. 
30. 


John  Smart, 
Edmund  Hobart, 
Joshua  Hobart, 
Peter  Hobart, 
Nathaniel  Peck, 
Richard  Osborn, 
George  Marsh, 
George  Lane, 
George  Ludkin, 
Nicholas  Baker, 
Nathaniel  Baker, 
Andrew  Lane, 
George  Bacon, 
Thomas  Collier, 
Francis  Smith. 


Sen. 


Of  the  above  1,  Jam.es  Cade  or  Cady,  came  from  the  West  of  Eng- 
land with  three  sons.  The  same  name  appears  in  Yarmouth  in  1640, 
and  in  the  same  year  there  appears  to  have  been  a  person  of  the  same 
name  in  Boston. — Fanner^s  Register. 

2.  Abraham  Martin  removed  to  Rehoboth.  His  name  is  on  the  list 
of  freemen  of  that  town  in  1657.  His  will  was  proved  Sept.  9,  1669. 
In  it  he  gave  £1  10  to  Rev.  Peter  Hobart.    Martin  was  a  Weaver. 


3.     William  JVolton,  (invariably  written  thus  in  records  of  Hingham, 


36 


but  properly  Knowlton,)  probably  removed  to  Ipswich.     His  name 
appears  there  in  1044. 

4.  John  Oils,  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  of  Otis  in  this  conn- 
try.  He  came  from  Barnstable,  Devonshire,  England.  He  was  a 
freeman  in  1635-6.  He  died  at  Weymouth,  May  31,  1657,  aged  76. 
His  son  John  removed  to  Scituate  in  1661.  In  1678,  he  removed  to 
Barnstable,  but  returned  to  Scituate,  and  died  there  in  1683,  leaving 
a  son  John  at  Barnstable,  and  others  at  Scituate. 

5.  Thomas  Loring,  was  a  freeman  in  163.5-6.  His  descendants 
now  reside  in  Hingham,  Hull,  Boston,  &c.  "  1661,  April,  Thomas 
Loring  sometimes  a  Deacon  to  the  church  at  Hingham  died  at  Hull." 

HoharVs  Diary. 

6.  John  Strong,  a  freeman  of  Massachusetts,  in  1636-7,  removed 
to  Taunton.  He  was  a  freeman  on  the  list  of  that  town  in  1643.  He 
removed  from  Taunton  to  Northampton  as  early  as  1659.  He  was 
undoubtedly  the  ancestor  of  the  numerous  families  of  that  name  in 
the  County  of  Hampshire. 

7.  David  Phippcn's  name  appears  afterwards  in  Boston.  He  was 
a  freeman  in  1635-6. 

8.  Thomas  A7idrews.  "Old  Thomas  Andrews  died"  in  August, 
IQi^.— HoharVs  Diary. 

9.  Joseph  Andreivs,  son  of  the  preceding,  a  freeman  in  1635-0,  was 
the  first  constable  of  Hingham,  Town  Clerk  for  many  years  from 
1637,  a  deputy  at  the  May  and  September  Courts,  1636,  also,  in  three 
Courts  of  the  following  year,  and  again  in  May,  1638,  and  was  often 
elected  to  other  municipal  offices.  He  died  January  1, 1679-80,  aged 
83.  His  will  was  made  September  27,  1679,  and  proved  soon  after 
his  decease.  In  it  he  mentions  his  sons  Joseph,  Ephraim  and  Thom- 
as. He  had  also  several  grand-children  bearing  his  name.  His  son 
Capt.  Thomas,  was  in  the  Canada  E]xpedition,  1690.  His  grandson, 
Rev.  Jedidiah,  was  a  minister  in  Philadelphia. 

10.  William  Walton  is  supposed  by  Farmer  to  be  the  same  who 
came  from  Seaton,  in  Devonshire,  England,  freeman  1635-6,  and  a 
minister  of  Marblehead  nearly  thirty  years,  though  not  ordained.  His 
name  is  erroneously  called  Waliham  by  blather.  He  was  in  Marble- 
head  as  early  as  1639.    A  will  of  William  Waltham,  of  Weynionth, 


37 


is  recorJed  in  the  Siifl'olk  Registry,  provnd  Doc  30,  1(141.  Tlir;  tes- 
tator appoints  Ins  fjitluT,  (perhaps  ol'IMjirltlcIicad,)  l'^x«.'ciitor.  A  rove 
North  of  Otis  Hill  hears  thu  iianio  of  Wakrm. 

31.  Richard  Bclscojnc  or  Bctsham,  a  frectnan  in  l():{()-7.  \othing 
can  be  gathered  from  the  records  of  liis  descendants. 

ri.  Thomas  Jfakdij,  afvccmnu  in  Uv35-G.  One  of  this  name  die<l 
in  Hingham,  June  23,  1G44,  perliaps  a  son  of  the  above  named.  Far- 
mer thinks  the  elder  Wakely  is  the  same,  who,  with  his  wife,  son 
daughter  in  law  and  two  grand-children,  was  murdered  by  the  Indi- 
ans at  Casco  Bay,  in  1675.  This  is  probable,  as  this  Wakely  was  "  uri 
old  man." 

13.  ff'illiam  Arnall  or  Arnold.  Probably  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Rhode  Island. 

14.  JVicholas  Jacob,  came  from  Hingham,  England,  in  1G33,  resid- 
ed a  short  time  at  Watertown,  freeman  1635-6,  a  deputy  in  1648  and 
1649,  died  June  5, 1657.  He  had  sons  John  and  Joseph.  His  daugh- 
ter Mary  married  John  Otis,  Elizabeth  married  John  Thaxler  and 
Sarah,  John  Gushing.  The  descendants  of  Nicholas  Jacob  are  nu- 
merous in  Hingham  and  Scituate. 

15.  Edmund  Hohart,  Jr.  a  freeman  in  1634,  son  of  Edmund  and 
brother  of  Rev.  Peter  Hobart.  Edmund,  Jr's  sons  were  Samuel, 
Daniel,  John.     He  died  February,  1685-6,  aged  82. 

16.  John  Smart,  probably  removed  to  Exeter,  where  his  name  ap- 
pears in  1647,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  which,  and  in  other  parts  of  New 
Hampshire,  the  name  still  exists. — Farmer. 

17.  Edmund  Hohart,  Senior,  a  freeman  in  1633-4,  first  settled  at 
Charlestown,  where  he  was  constable  in  1634.  He  removed  to  Hing- 
ham in  1635.  He  was  a  deputy  in  1639,  1640  and  J642.  He  died 
March  8,  1645-6.  He  was  the  father  of  Rev.  Peter  Hobart,  ImI- 
mund,  Thomas  and  Joshua. 

18.  Joshua  Hohart,  son  of  the  preceding,  a  freeman  in  1634,  ac- 
companied his  father  to  this  country,  in  1633.  He  was  frequently 
one  of  the  selectmen,  a  captain,  a  deputy  in  1643,  re-elected  twenty- 
four  times,  Speaker  of  the  House  of  Deputies  in  1674,  died  July  28, 


38 


1682,  aged  67.  He  had  sons  Joshua  and  Enoch,  (mentioned  in  his 
will,)  and  John,  according  to  the  information  furnished  to  Rev.  Mr. 
Schroeder,  the  Biographer  of  Bishop  Hobart.  This  John  went  to  the 
southern  part  of  the  continent  before  Penn's  settlement  of  Pennsylva- 
nia ;  on  his  return  homeward,  he  married  in  a  Swedish  family,  where 
Philadelphia  was  afterwards  built,  and  he  settled  on  a  spot  now  call- 
ed Kensington,  a  northern  suburb  of  that  city.  His  son  Enoch  Ho- 
bart, who  died  Oct.  27,  1776,  was  the  father  of  John  H.  Hobart,  D.  D. 
the  eminent  Bishop  of  New  York,  who  died  at  Auburn,  Sept.  12, 
1830,  aged  55. — Schroeder's  Memoir, 

19.  Peter  Hobart,  Pastor  of  the  Church.  He  had  a  large  family. 
He  mentions  fourteen  children  in  his  will,  (made  January  16,  1678-9, 
proved  Feb.  26,  same  year.)  Of  these,  Joshua,  born  in  England,  and 
graduated  at  Harvard  in  1650,  was  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Southold, 
L.  I.  where  he  died  in  Feb.  1716-17,  aged  89.  Jeremiah,  also  born  in 
England,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1650,  settled  in  the  ministry 
at  Topsfield,  Mass.  then  at  Hempstead,  L.  I.,  afterwards  at  Haddam, 
Con.,  where  he  died  "the  latter  end  of  February  1716-17,"  aged  87. 
Gcrshom,  an  eccentric  clergyman,  born  in  Hiugham  in  Dec.  ]645, 
graduated  at  Harvard,  1667,  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Groton,  Mass. 
but  was  dismissed.  He  died  Dec.  19, 1707,  aged  62.  Japheth,  born  in 
April,  1647,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1667,  was  educated  a  physician, 
and  was  lost  at  sea  on  a  passage  to  the  East  Indies.  JVehemiah,  born 
in  November,  1648,  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1667,  was  settled  in  the 
ministry  at  Newton,  Mass.  Dec.  23,  1674,  and  died  August  25,  1712. 
Rev.  Peter  Hobari's  grandson  Nehemiah  was  the  first  minister  of 
Cohasset,  Mass.,  and  another  grandson  Noah  was  a  minister  of  Fair- 
field, Con.     Rev.  Peter  Hobart  was  made  a  freeman  Sept.  2, 1635. 

20.  JVathaniel  Peck,  died,  according  to  Hobart's  Diary,  August 
4, 1676. 

21.  Richard  Oshorn,  probably  left  Hingham  at  a  very  early  date. 
I  can  find  no  account  of  him. 

22.  George  Marsh,  a  freeman  in  1635-6,  died  July  2,  1647. 

23.  George  Lane,  died  June,  1689. 

24.  George  Ludkin,  a  freeman  in  1635-6,  removed  to  Braintree, 
where  he  died  February  20, 1647-8. 


39 


25.  J\''icholas  Baker,  a  fVccmaii  in  IMarcli,  K;:?r)-(],  a  dopiiiy  at  ilio 
May  Court,  10:3(5,  and  again  in  KkJ^,  livcxl  at  llie  foot  of  JJakor\s  Hill, 
\vliicii  received  its  name  from  him  or  liis  ImoiImm-  Natliani(3l.  In  1(542, 
he  made  application  for  lands  at  Seekoid<,  hut  he  did  not  removo 
there.  In  1(557,  he  received  several  grants  of  land  in  Hull,  among 
them  a  "home  lot"  and  resided  there.  After  the  death  of  President 
Dunster,  Pastor  of  the  First  Church  in  Scituate,  Mr.  Baker  was  in- 
vited to  preach  there.  Mr.  Dcane  says,  "  where  and  when  he  had 
qualified  himself  for  the  ministry  we  have  not  learned  :  but  the  prob- 
ability is,  that  without  a  regular  education,  by  the  force  of  his  own 
talents,  he  had  acquired  a  respectable  degree  of  theological  knowl- 
edge, and  by  the  virtues  of  his  life  he  had  recommended  himself  to 
the  public."  He  was  ordained  in  Scituate  in  IGGO.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  producing  a  reconciliation  of  the  two  Churches  at  Scituate, 
which  had  held  no  connnunion  with  each  other  for  thirty  five  years. 
Cotton  Mather  gives  a  favorable  notice  of  him  in  the  Magnalia.  Mr. 
Baker  died  August  22,  1678,  at  Scituate,  where  he  left  descendants. 

2(5.  Mithaniel  Baker,  brother  of  the  preceding,  was  a  large  land- 
bolder.  He  died  June  3,  1G82.  In  his  will  executed  May  11,  1682, 
he  disposes  of  his  estate  chiefly  among  his  grand-children,  Joseph 
Loringand  others,  children  of  John  Loring.  He  also  makes  provi- 
sion for  his  wife,  his  two  Indian  servants,  and  he  gives  IO5.  a  piece 
to  the  children  of  his  brother  Nicholas,  late  of  Scituate. 

27.  Andrew  Lane,  was  living  in  Hingham  in  1671,  and  doubtless 
was  the  same  who  died  May  1,  1675. 

28.  George  Bacon,  died  m  1642.  We  have  no  account  of  his  de- 
scendants. 

29.  Tho7nns  Collier,  died  in  Hingham  6  (2)  1646,  (6  April,  1646) 
Suffolk  Records,  but  according  to  Hobart  1647,  aged  71.  His  lamily 
removed  to  Hull  where  Thomas  Collier  son  of  our  Thomas  had 
grants  of  land  in  1657.     Thence  descendants  moved  to  Scituate. 

30.  Frajicis  Smith,  a  freeman  in  1637,  removed  to  Taunton.  A 
will  of  Francis  Smith  of  that  place  was  made  1679,  when  the  testator 
was  60  years  of  age.  He  owned  a  "  share  in  the  iron  works."  This 
might  have  been  a  son  of  the  Hingham  Francis,  because  if  the  latter 
he  would  have  been  but  16  years  of  age  when  he  received  grants  of 
land  in  Hingham. 


40 


NOTE  B,  TO  PAGE  7. 


In  addition  to  the  persons  mentioned  in  the  preceding  Note,  the 
following  persons  received  grants  of  land  in  1635.  House  Lots  in 
Broad  Cove  (Lincoln)  Street. 


Thomas  Chnbbuck, 
John  Tucker, 
John  Palmer, 


Mr.  Richard  Ibrook, 
William  Cockerum, 
William  Cockerill. 


A  House  Lot  where  the  dwelling-house  of  the  late  Elisha  Gushing 
stands  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  South  Streets — Thomas  Gill. 

In  1635,  grants  were  made  of  planting  lots  on  Weary-all  (Otis) 
Hill,  as  follows: 

South  side  of  the  Hill: 


William  Knowlton, 
John  Otis, 
Jolm  Porter, 
Andrew  Lane, 
Nicholas  Jacob, 

North  side  of  the  Hill : 


Jarvice  Gould, 
Francis  Siuith, 
Benjamin  Bozworth, 
Nicholas  Lobden, 
John  Smart. 


Thomas  Lincoln,  (Weaver.] 
Jonas  Austin, 
William  Bucldand. 


Thomas  Johnson, 
Daniel  Fop, 
John  Farrow, 
Henry  Rust, 

In  1635,  planting  lots  were  granted  at  Broad  Cove  to  John  Cutler, 
Henry  Tuttil,  &c.  Also  planting  lots  were  granted  in  the  same  year 
to  William  Hersey,  Thomas  llobart  and  others.  These  lots  were  sit- 
uated to  the  "  westward  of  Weary-all  hill  towards  the  Captain's  tent 
against  the  sea." 

Also  lots  in  Broad  Cove  Meadows  to  John  Prince  and  Clement 
Bates.     A  House  lot  on  Town  Street  to  Anthony  Cooper. 

The  House  lots  on  the  South  side  of  Town  (now  South)  Street, 
were  chiefly  granted  in  1636.  Commencing  where  the  house  of 
Thomas  Loring  stands,  they  were  as  follows : 

William  Large, 
Thomas  Lincoln,  (Miller.) 
John  Farrow, 
(jcorge  Russell, 
Clement  Bates, 


Thomas  Johnson, 

Daniel  Fop, 

Thomas  Lincoln,  (Weaver.) 

Jarvice  Gould, 

Ralph  Woodward, 

Jonas  Austin, 


John  Beal,  Sen.  1638. 
Thomas  Hobart, 
Adam  Motr, 
William  Walker, 
John  Cutler,  1637, 
Benjamin  Bozworth, 
John  Winchester, 
William  Hersey, 
William  Buckland, 
Stephen  Gates,  1638. 


41 


Also  in  183G,  House  Lots  were  granted  on  tlio  Lower  Plain  to 

A'inton  Driicc,  Anthony   J'larncs, 

Samuel  Wanl,  Thomas  INIinard, 

Thomas  Lndcrwood,  dVorgc  Strange, 

Nicholas  I lodsilcn,  Johrj  Park(?r, 

IJohert  Jones,  .Fohn  Leavitt, 

Thomas  J  [annnond,  Mr.  Joseph  Hull ; 
William   Sprague, 

Also  in  the  North  part  of  the  town  to 
Richard  Langer,  Nicholas  Lohden, 

Thomas  Hett,  Henry  Gihhs, 

Thomas  Lincoln,  (Cooper,)  Matthew   Keane. 

In  1037,  House  Lots  were  granted  on  Bachelor  Street,   to  the  per- 
sons whose  names  follow.    Bachelor  Street  was  that  part  of  Main 
Street  which  extends  from  South  Street  to  the  Plain. 
Jonathan  Bozworth,  .Tosei)h  Phij)peny, 

Henry  Tuttil,  Thomas  Barnes,' 

Thomas  Chaffe,  Ralph  Sn)ith, 

William  Ludkin,  Thomas  Dimock, 

John  Tower,  Thomas  Clapp  ; 

TJiomas  Shave, 

Also  on  the  Plain  to  William  Carsly,  and  Thomas  Underwood  ; 
Also  a  house  lot  at  Goose  Point  to  Thomas  Turner,  and  other 
lots  to 

Josiah  Cobbitt,  Aaron  lAidkin, 

Thomas  Nichols,  John  Morrick, 

Thomas  Paynter,  Edmund  Pitts. 

In  1638,  grants  of  land  either  for  House  Lots  or  other  purposes 
were  made  to 


Thomas  Lincoln,  Husbandman 

Stephen  Lincoln, 

Jeremiah  31oore, 

Samuel  Parker, 

Mr.  Robert  Peck, 

Mr.  Joseph  Peck, 

John  Stodder, 

Edward  Oilman, 

George  Knight, 

Henry  Chamberlin, 

Matthew  Gushing, 

Thomas  Cooper, 

John  Sutton, 

Thomas  Lawrence, 

In  1G39,  to  Anthony  Hilliard, 

«  1646, 

«  1647, 

«  1656, 

«  1657, 


Mr.  Henry  Smith, 
Matthew  Ilawke, 
Francis  James, 
Philip  James, 
James  Buck, 
John  Foulsham, 
William  Ripley, 
Thomas  Thaxter, 
Stephen  Paine, 
Martha  Wilder, 
John  Benson, 
Bozoan  Allen, 
Thomas  Jones  j 


Simon  Burr, 

John  Lazell  and  Michael  Pearce, 
John  Garnett,  and  Samuel  Stowell, 
James  Whiton,  and  Onesiphorus  Marsh. 


42 


It  is  proper  to  remark,  that  many  of  the  grants  above  mentioned 
bear  different  dates  in  the  Toivn  and  Proprietors'  Records.  I  have  se- 
lected the  earhest  in  each  case.  In  a  very  i'evf  instances,  individuals 
never  took  possession  of  the  lands  granted,  or  did  not  reside  in  Hing- 
ham.  Some  grants  were  made  to  individuals  before  their  arrival  in 
this  country.  The  materials  are  collected  for  copious  notes  on  the 
descendants  of  the  persons  herein  mentioned,  but  the  limits  of  this 
pamphlet  do  not  permit  their  insertion. 


Among  the  papers  of  Daniel  Gushing,  mentioned  in  the  text,  is  the 
following  list  of  the  early  settlers  of  Hingham.  It  has  never  been 
published. 

DANIEL  CUSHING'S  RECORD. 

"  A  list  of  the  names  of  such  persons  as   came  out  of  the  Town  of 
Hingham,  and  Towns  adjacent  in  the  County  of  Norfolk,  in  the 
Kingdom  of  England,  into  New  England,  and  settled  in  Hingham, 
in  New  England,  most  of  them  as  foUoweth  : — 
1633.  Imprimis  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  God  1633,  Theoph- 
ilus  Gushing  came  from  Hingham  in  Norfolk,  and  lived 
several  years  at  Mr.   Hains's  (Hayne's)  farm  and  many 
years  before  he  dyed  he  lived  at  Hingham,  in  New  Eng- 
land, and  there  he  dyed,  being  about  100  years  old,  and 
was  blind  about  25  years  of  the  said  time.  1 

1633.  Edmond  Hobart,  senior,  came  from  said  Hingham,  with 
his  wife  and  his  son  Joshua  and  his  daughters  Rebekah 
and  Sarah  and  their  servant  Henry  Gibbs,  into  New 
England,  and  settled  first  at  Gharlestown  and  after,  the  3 
said  Edmond  Hobart  and  his  son  Joshua  and  Henry 
Gibbs  settled  in  this  Town  of  Hingham. 
Also  Ralph  Smith  came  from  Old  Hingham  and  lived 
in  this  town.  1 

1G33.    Also  Nicholas  Jacob  with  his  wife  and  two  children, 

and  their  cosen  Thomas  Lincoln,  weaver,  came  from      4 
Old  Hingham,  and  settled  in  this  Hingham.  1 


43 


1G33.   Also  Edmond  Ilolmrt  and  his  vvifo  came  from  Old  liing- 

hnm,  and  settled  in  this  Hiiijrham.  ''^ 

1033.    Also  Thomas  llohart  came  from  Windham,  with  ids 

wife  and  3  children,  and  settled  in  ]lin^dium.  5 

](334.    Thomas  Chnbhuck  and  his  wife  came  and  settled  in  this 

IJingham.  '- 

1G35.    Mr.  Peter  llohart  Minister  of  the  Gospcll,  with  his  wife 

and  4  children,  came  into  New  England,  and  settled  in 

this  town  of  llingham,  and  was  Pastor  of  the  Church       G 
years. 
1G35.    Mr.  Anthony  Cooper  with  his  wife  and  4  sons  and  4 

daughters  and  4  servants,  came  from  Old  Hingham,  and     14 

settled  in  New  Hingham. 
1G35.   John  Farrow  and  his  wife  and  child  came  from  Old      3 

Hingham,  and  settled  in  New  Hingham. 
1G35.    William  Large  and  his  wife  came  and  settled  at  New 

Hingham.  2 

Also  George  Ludkin  his  wife  and  son.  3 

1C37.    John  Tower  and  Samuel  Lincoln  came  from  Old  Hing-       2 

ham,  and  both  settled  at  New  Hingham. 

Samuel  Lincoln  living  some  time  at  Salem.  

49 


•© 


1G38.   Mr.  Robert  Peck  preacher  of  the  Gospell  in  the  Town 
of  Hingham,  in  the  County  of  Norfolk,  in  Old  England, 
with  his  wife  and  2  children  and  two  servants  came       6 
over  the  sea,  and  settled  in  this  Town  of  Hingham, 
and  he  was  teacher  of  the  Church. 

1638.    Mr.  Joseph  Peck  and  his  wife  with  3  sons  and  daugh- 
ter, and  2  men  servants  and  3  maid  servants  came  from     10 
Old  Hingham  and  settled  in  New  Hingham. 

1G38.    Edward  Gill  man  with  his  wife  3  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters and  3  servants,  came  and  settled  in  this  Town  of      8 
Hingham. 

1638.    John  Foulsham  and  his  wife  and  two  servants,  came      4 
from  Old  Hingham  and  settled  in  New  Hingham. 

1638.    Henry  Chamberlin  shoe  maker  his  wife  and  his  mother 

and  two  cliildren,  came  from  Old  Hingham  and  settled      5 
at  New  Hingham. 

1638.   Steven  Gates  his  wife  and  2  children,  came  from  Old 

Hingham,  and  settled  in  New  Hingham.  4 

37 


44 


1638.    George  Knights  liis  wife  and  child  came  from  Barrow, 

and  setded  in  New  Hingham.  3 

1638.  Thomas  Cooper  and  his  wife  and  two  children  and  two 
servants  and  two  other  persons  (viz:)  John  Tufts  and 
Robert  Skouling,  came  from  Old  Hingham,  and  there- 
about, and  setded  in  New  Hingham.  8 

1638.   Mathew  Gushing  and  his  wife  and  4  sons  and  one  daugh- 
ter, and  his  wife's  sister  Frances  Ricroft,  widow  came       8 
from  Old  Hingham  and  settled  at  New  Hingham. 

1638.    John  Beale,  shoemaker,  with  his  wife  and  5  sons  and  3     12 
daughters  and  2  servants,  came  from  Old  Hingham  and 
settled  at  New  Hingham. 

1638.  Elizabeth  Sayer  and  Mary  Sayer  came  from  Old  Hing- 
ham, and  settled  in  New  Hingham.  2 

1638.    Francis  James  and  his  wife  and  2  servants  (to  witt) 

Thomas  Sucklin  and  Richard  Baxter  came  from  Old      4 
Hingham  and  setded  in  New  Hingham. 

1638.    Philip  James  his  wife  and  4  children  and  two  servants 

(viz)  William  Pitts  and  Edward  Michell  came  from  Old      8 
Hingham  and  settled  in  New  Hingham.     Philip  James 
dyed  soon  after  he  came. 

1638.   James  Buck  with  his  servant  John  Morfield,  came  from      2 
Old  Hingham  and  setded  in  New  Hingham. 

1638.    Also  in  the  same  ship  that  the  above  named  persons 
came  in,  came  divers  other  persons  out  of  several  towns 
near  to  Old  Hingham,  (viz  :)  Steven  Paine  with  his  wife       9 
and  3  sons  4  servants,  came  from  Great  Ellingham  and 
settled  in  New  Hingham. 

1638.   John  Sutton  and  his  wife  and  four  children  came  from      6 
Adeburraye,  (Atdeboro')  and  settled  in  New  Hingham. 

1638.    Steven  Lincoln  and  his  wife  and  his  son  Steven,  came      3 
from  Windham,  and  settled  in  New  Hingham. 

1638.    Samuel  Packer  and  his  wife  and  child  came  from  Wind- 
ham, and  settled  in  New  Hingham.  3 
1638.    Thomas  Lincoln  and  Jeremiah  Moore  came  from  Wind- 
ham, and  setded  in  New  Hingham.                                       2 
1638.    Mr.  Henry   Smith  and   his  wife  and  3  sons  and  two 
daughters,  and  three  men  servants,  and  2  maid  servants, 
and  Thomas  Mayer  came  from  Ha**en  Hall  in  Norfolk,     13 
and  setded  in  New  Hingham. 
1638.    Mr.  Bozone  Allen  and  his  wife  and  two  servants  came 

from  Lynn,  in  Norfolk,  and  setded  in  New  Hingham.        4 


15 


Also  William  Iliply  and  wife  niul  4  children.  <» 

1G38.  IMatlicvv  Hawk  and  his  wife,  nnd  his  servant  John  Fer- 
mg,  came  from  Cambridge,  in  Old  England,  and  settled 
New  Ilingham,  S 

!,)G 

All  the  persons  above  named  that  came  over  in  the  year 

1638,  were  133,  came  in  one  ship  called  the  Diligent  of 

Ipswich  ;  the  master  was  John  Martin  of  said  Ipswich. 

All  before  named  that  came  before  were  42  persons.        133 

42 

175 

All  of  them  setded  in  this  *  ^^  Town  of  Hingham. 

1G39.  Edmond  Pitts  and  his  wife  and  child  and  his  brother 
Leonard  Pitts  and  Adam  Foulsham,  came  from  Old 
Hingham  and  settled  in  New  Hingham.  5 

Frances  Ricroft  died  in  a  few  weeks  after  she  came  ;  and 
Mr,  Robert  Peck  his  wife  his  son  Joseph  and  his  maid 
went  to  England  again  in  the  year  1641. 

1638.  William  Riply  and  his  wife  and  2  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters came  from  Old  Hingham,  and  settled  in  New  Hing- 
ham. 6 

1635.  John  Smart  and  his  wife  and  2  sons,  came  out  of  Norfolk, 

in  Old  England,  and  settled  in  New  Hingham.  4 

1637.  Henry  Tuttil  and  his  wife,  and  Isaac  Wright,  came  out 

of  Norfolk,  and  settled  in  New  Hingham.  3 

1637.  William  Ludkin,  the  Smith,  and  his  wife  came  from  Nor- 
wich, and  settled  in  New  Hingham.  2 

1637.  From        ***        in  Norfolk  came  John  Cutler,  and  his     9 
wife  7  children  one  servant.  10 

19 

All  the  persons  that  came  from  Norfolk  in  Old  England  in  several 
years  (viz:)  beginning  to  come  in  the  year  1G33,  until  the  year  and  in 
the  year  1639,  were  206.  The  most  of  them  came  from  Old  Hing- 
ham, and  the  rest  of  them  from  several  other  towns  thereabout  and 
settled  in  this  town  of  New  Hingham." 

The  above  is  copied  as  written  by  Daniel  Cushing,  except  gross  er- 
rors in  orthography  are  corrected.  Proper  names  and  figures  cor- 
respond with  the  original.  This  curious  record  is  the  property  of 
Levi  L.  Cushing  of  Boston,  a  descendant  of  Daniel  Cushing. 


4G 


NOTE  C,  TO  PAGE  15. 

Extract  from  the  account  of  "  disbursements  paid  out  of  the  Towne 
rate  for  the  Towne's  use"  in  the  year  1662. 

To  Lieutenant  Hudson  for  Mr.  Hubberds  expense  at  the 

Synod  £02  14  10 

To  Lieutenant  Hudson  for  our  deputyes  dyet  for  two  ses- 
sions in  the  yeare  1662  05  10  00 

To  Joshua  Beals  for  maintenance  of  the  drum  01  00  00 

To  Steven  Lincohi  for  maintenance  of  ye  drum  00  10  00 

To  John  Stodder  and  Joseph  Church  for  worke  done 

about  the  scoole  house  01  11  00 

To  Rich :  Wood  in  part  of  pay  for  the  worke  about  ye 

pulpit  00  05  09 

To  Goodman  Pitts  for  ringing  the  bell  and  sweeping  the 

meeting  house  02  00  00 

Paid  to  William  Woodcocke  for  time  when  he  was  press- 
ed for  a  souldier  00  05  00 

Paid  to  Goodm :  Sprague  for  wheat  and  butter  for  Goody 

Keine  00  02  04 


NOTE  D,  TO  PAGE  16. 

A  manuscript  volume  of  sermons,  preached  by  Rev.  Peter  Hobart, 
is  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Fearing  Burr.  On  one  page  of  the  volume 
it  is  stated  that  "Matthew  Hawke  of  Hingham  was  the  good  man  that 
first  did  characterize  these  sermons  and  afterwards  took  the  trouble 
to  write  them  out  in  a  plain  hand  for  the  benefit  of  his  blessed  poster- 
ity." Some  of  them  are  upon  the  text  Ecclesiastes  xi,  9, 10,  Rejoice, 
O  young  man,  in  thy  youth,  &c.  Cotton  Mather  (Magnalia  1.  451) 
says  of  Mr.  Hobart,  "lie  preached  many  pungent  sermons,  on  Eccl. 
xi,  9,  10,  and  Eccl.  xii,  1."  The  volume  owned  by  Mr.  Burr,  un- 
doubtedly contains  tiie  sermons  mentioned  by  Mather.  They  are 
plain  and  "  pimgcnt."  In  Matthew  Hawke's  Will,  made  Sept.  24, 
1684,  he  gives  to  his  son  James  Hawke  "  onebookeof  Mr.  Hubbard's 
sermons."  The  volume  above  mentioned  contains  evidence  that  it 
was  the  property  of  James  Hawke.  The  hand  writing  is  extremely 
neat  and  legible.     It  is  a  valuable  relic  of  our  first  Pastor. 


47 


NOTE  E,  TO  PAGE  16. 

The  only  specimen  of  the  produftions  of  Mr.  Norton  was  found  re- 
cently on  examining  files  of  old  papers  in  the  possession  of  Capt. 
John  Fearing.  This  is  contained  in  three  leaves  of  Mannscript  in  the 
beautiful  hand  writing  of  Matthew  Ilawke.  It  is  entitled  "Mr.  Nor- 
ton his  exposition  upon  19  chap,  of  John :  vers  :  1 :  2."  "Then  Pilate 
therefore  took  Jesus  and  scoin-ged  him.  And  the  soldiers  platted  a 
crown  of  thorns  and  put  it  on  his  head"  <S.:c. 


NOTE  F,  TO  PAGE  17. 

"  1G81,  July  26,  27  and  28.     The  new  meeting  house  raised  which 
cost  the  town  £4130  in  money  and  the  old  house." 

HoharVs  Diary. 

"  168(l)-2,  January  8.    This  Sabbath  we  first  met  in  the   new 
meeting  house. — Ihid. 


NOTE  G,  TO  PAGE  17. 

The  religious  Societies  in  Hingham  are  the  following; 

First  Parish,  Congregational  ^ 

Second  do.  do.  >  Unitarian. 

Third  Society         do.  ) 

First  Universalist  Society. 
"     Baptist  do. 

«    Methodist        do. 

IN  COIIASSET, 
First  Congregational  Parish,  Unitarian. 
Second  Congregational  Parish,  Calvinistic. 
Methodist  Society. 
0^7=*  All  these  societies  are  within  the  original  limits  of  Hingham. 
Cohasset  was  incorporated  in  1770. 


NOTE  H,  TO  PAGE  18. 

MILITARY  SERVICES. 

In  1637,  Hingham  furnished  six  men  to  assist  in  the  prosecution  of 
the  Pequot  war. 


48 


In  1675,  there  were  soldiers  from  this  town  engaged  in  Philip's  war. 
The  precise  number  cannot  be  ascertained.  The  Town  Books  con- 
tain several  items  of  disbursements  for  soldiers  in  the  years  1675  and 
1676. 

In  1690,  in  the  expedition  to  Canada,  under  the  command  of  Sir 
William  Phipps,  there  were  several  persons  from  this  town.  Among 
them 

Capt.  Thomas  Andrews,  I      Samuel  Judkins, 

Lieut.  John  Chubbuck,  |      Paul  Gilford  and 

Jonathan  Burr,  Jonathan  May. 

Daniel  Tower,  | 

All  of  the  above  named  and  "  two  more  of  the  town  died  of  the 
Small  Pox  in  the  expedition  and  one  slain." 

Toivn  Records  and  HoharVs  Diary. 
In  1754,  on  the  Kennebeck  Muster  Rolls,  Winslow's  Regimentj 
Capt.  John  Lane's  Company,  I  find  the  names  of  Elijah  Cushing 
Ephraim  Hall  and  Isaac  Larabee  of  Hingham. 

In  1755,  a  company  was  recruited  in  Hingham  and  vicinity  for  the 
Crown  Point  expedition.     A  copy  of  the  company  roll  is  subjoined  : 

ROLL 
Of  the  Company  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Samuel  Thaxter,  viz: 
Samuel  Thaxter,  Captain. 
William  Whitmarsh,  Lieutenant, 
Nathaniel  Bay  ley,  Ensign. 
Thomas  Gill,  Jr.      \ 

Samuel  Joy,  Clerk. ) 
John  King,         \ 
Thomas  Hollis,  f  Corporals. 
Lot  Lincoln,       C        * 
Hosea  Dunbar,   ) 


Nehemiah  Blancher, 
Samuel  Clay, 
Thomas  Chubbuck, 
Joseph  Carrell, 
Jeremiah  Canterbury,  jr. 
Jonathan  Cobb, 
Christopher  Capen, 
Joseph  Dunbar, 
Jona.  Derby,  jr. 
Cornelius  Duggen, 
Seth  French, 
Jacob  Goldthwate, 
William  Garnett 


PRIVATES. 

Thomas  Hersey, 
Josiah  Hay  den, 
Elisha  Hayden, 
Caleb  Hayden, 
Matthias  Hartman, 
Thomas  Hovey, 
Nathan  Hunt, 
Francis  Jones, 
Joseph  Jones, 
Barrach  Jordan, 
Silas  Lovell, 
Joseph  Lyon, 
George  McLaughlen, 


49 


Willinm  Magnor,  .Tolin  Trnsi?, 

Kiclianl  Nowcoiiil),  William  'I'aiint, 

David  Powell,  I      AI.(!l  Wiid.r, 

John  Sprngiie,  .lonallian  W'liiton, 

Ste|)hcn  Salisbury,  Jlczckiali  Whiu;, 

.Tatiics  Saumlers,  William  Wise, 

IJeiijamin  Tirrili,  Samuel  Tiask, 

Joyepli  Tniant,  Jacob  Thayer, 

William  Thayer, 

The  above  is  a  true  roll  of  my  com[)any  complcat  with  arms  of 
their  own  procuring.  SAM'L  TIIAXTER. 

Col.  Gridley's  Regiment  of  eight  companies.   Capt.  Thaxter  march- 
ed with  55  men  23d  Sept.  1755. 

COL.  GRIDLEY'S  REGLIIENT. 
Ten  Companies.    July  2G,  175G. 
Mnj.  Samuel  Thaxter's  Company  enlisted 
Solomon  Lovcll,  Weymouth,  Jst  Lieutenant. 
Joseph  Blake,  Boston,  2d        do. 

Jeremiah  Lincoln,  Hingham,  Ensign. 

EXTRACT  FROM  THE  ROLL. 

Thomas  Gushing, 
Jonathan  Smith, 
Caleb  Leavitt, 
Elijah  White, 
Joshua  Dunbar, 
Israel  Gilbert, 
Thomas  Slander, 
Robert  Tower, 
James  Fearing,  Jr. 
Knight  Sprague,  Jr. 
Daniel  Stoddard, 
Abel  Wilder, 
Joseph  Loring, 
George  Low, 
Zebulon  Stoddard, 
Geo.  McLaughlen, 

MUSTER  ROLL 
By  Lt.  Lovell,  sworn  to  by  Maj.  Thaxter,  Feb.  11,  1757,  to  obtain 
the  pay  of  men.     From  Feb.  18  to  Nov.  10, 1756. 

Extract  of  names,  &c.  of  Hingham  persons. 
JVames.  Remarks.         Close  of  Service. 

Joshua  Dunbar,  deceased.  Sep.  6. 

James  Fearing,  Jr.  "  Oct.  20. 

6 


^ge. 

Place  of  Birth. 

R 

p.sidence. 

34 

Hingham. 

Weymouth 

27 

<( 

H 

mgham. 

24 

(( 

u 

23 

(( 

(( 

18 

(( 

(( 

44 

Hull. 

(( 

21 

Hingham. 

a 

22 

(( 

<( 

20 

u 

ii 

17 

(( 

(C 

22 

(( 

(( 

20 

u 

i( 

18 

(( 

It 

20 

Guernsey. 

(( 

40 

Hingham. 

(( 

19 

Ireland. 

C( 

50 


JVames. 

Remarks. 

Close  oj  Service. 

George  McLauglilen, 

Dec.  9. 

Israel  Gilbert, 

deceased. 

Sep.  2L 

Daniel  Stoddard, 

Dec.  9. 

Knight  Sprague,  Jr. 

Dec.  9. 

Zebulon  Stodder, 

Dec.  9. 

Abel  Wilder, 

deceased. 

Oct.  31. 

Jeremiah  Lincoln,  (Ens.) 

in  captivity. 

Sep.  21. 

Jonathan  Smith,  (Corp.) 

Dec.  9. 

Caleb  Leavitt,  (Clerk.) 

Dec.  9. 

Thomas  Slander, 

killed. 

Sep.  19. 

William  Hodge, 

Nov.  11. 

Elijah  White, 

deceased. 

Sep.  20. 

George  Low, 

Dec.  9. 

Robert  Tower, 

deceased. 

Sep.  18. 

Isaac  Gross, 

June  3. 

In  the  year  1757,  several  Hingham  soldiers  were  present  at  the  bar- 
barous massacre  at  Fort  William  Henry.  Among  them,  were  Major 
Samuel  Thaxter,  Thotnas  Gill,  Thomas  Burr,  Elijah  Lewis,  Knight 
Sprague,  Seth  Stowers.  They  fortunately  escaped,  and  returned 
home,  after  suffering  almost  every  privation  on  their  journey. 

In  1758,  Dr.  Gay  records  the  decease  of  David  Waterman,  Ezra 
Garnett,  Samuel  Tucker  and  Obadiah  Stowell  in  the  *  *  expedition. 

Jeremiah  Lincoln,  (mentioned  in  one  of  the  preceding  rolls  as  in 
captivity,)  was  taken  prisoner  when  out  on  a  scout,  carried  to  Quebec, 
where,  after  spending  one  winter,  he  made  his  escape  in  the  night  with 
four  companions,  two  of  whom  went  back.  The  others  came  home 
through  the  wilderness,  having  suffered  much  for  want  of  food ; 
and  they  were  frequently  lost  on  their  perilous  journey,  so  that  seve- 
ral days  elapsed  before  they  could  learn  their  true  situation.  They 
subsisted  on  roots  and  the  bark  of  trees. 

In  1759,  Capt.  Jotham  Gay  commanded  a  company  which  was  sta- 
tioned at  Halifax,  from  March  31  to  Nov.  1.  It  contained  forty  two 
persons  from  this  town,  beside  others.  Rev.  Mr.  Brown  of  Cohasset 
was  Chaplain.  Dr.  Gay  corresponded  with  him,  and  in  a  character- 
istic letter,  under  date  of  June  25,  1759,  he  writes  to  Mr.  Brown,  "I 
wish  you  may  visit  Jotham  (Captain)  and  minister  good  instruction 
to  him  and  company,  and  furnish  him  with  suitable  sermons  in  print, 
or  in  your  own  very  legible,  if  not  very  intelligible  manuscripts,  to 
read  to  his  men,  who  are  without  a  preacher;  in  the  room  of  one, 
constitute  Jotham  curate." 


51 


In  17G0,  Stephen  rrcncli,  Jolin  Stowcll,  Jr.  and  Daniel  Lincoln 
dietl  ill  the  nnny. —  Gajj's  Record. 

Capt.  Joshua  Barker,  of  this  town,  served  us  a  Lieutenant  uinlcr 
Capt.  \VinsIo\v  in  the  expedition  to  the  West  Indies  in  1740,  and  in 
the  dillerent  wars  of  the  country,  from  1742  to  175d 


NOTE  I,  TO  PAGE  21. 

REVOLUTIONARY  SERVICES. 

I  have  collected  the  following  minutes  of  services  rendered  by  citi- 
zens of  this  town,  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  It  undoubtedly 
exhibits  in  an  imperfect  degree  the  extent  of  services.  The  dates 
when  the  services  commenced  are  inserted. 

In  1775,  April  19,  Capt.  James  Lincoln's  company  13  days  service. 

«  «  «      Enoch  Whiton's        do.        3  « 

«  «  "      Isaiah  Cushing's        do.        3  « 

«     Aio,r      «      «  5  James  Lincoln's        do.       8    months    in 
J>lay       «>         \  Hingham. 

In  1775,  April  27.  Capt.  Jotham  Loring  and  company  served  in 
Col.  Greaton's  Regiment  at  Roxbury,  &c.  till 
June  22,  when  Lt.  Charles  Gushing  was  ap- 
pointed Captain.  The  company  served  till  the 
close  of  the  year.  This  company  generally  re- 
enlisted  before  the  close  of  the  year,  for  a  ser- 
1776,  January  1.  viceof  one  year,  commencing  Jan.  1, 1776.  Af- 
ter the  evacuation  of  Boston,  they  marched  to 
New  York  ;  thence  they  embarked  for  Albany, 
where  they  arrived  April  25th,  at  Stillwater 
April  27th,  at  Fort  Edward  29th,  and  thence  by 
land  and  water,  to  Montreal,  where  they  arriv- 
ed May  21.  The  disasters  and  sufferings  of 
the  troops  in  this  expedition  are  matters  of  his- 
tory. I  am  happy  to  have  it  in  my  power  to 
give  the  names  of  the  officers  and  most  of  the 
men  who  served  in  it.    They  were 

Charles  Gushing,  Captain. 

Benjamin  Beal,  Lieutenant. 

John  Lincoln,  Ensign. 

Thomas  Marsh, 


Moses  Sprague, 
Abijuh  Whiton, 
Gln'ibtopher  Kilby, 


Joseph  Sprague, 
Israel  Stowcll, 


52 


Jonathan  Ilerscy, 
Jacob  Gardner, 
Hosea  Stodder, 
Joshua  Ripley, 
Luther  Gardner, 
Elijah  Gardner, 
Noah  Ilobart, 
Jesse  Dunbar, 
Lot  Marsh, 
Joshua  Dunbar, 
Reuben  Stodder,  Jr. 
David  Hersey, 
Israel  Whiton, 
Williauj  Spooner, 
Levi  Gardner, 
Obadiah  Stowell, 


Luke  Hunt, 
Daniel  Sprague, 
Joseph  Whiton, 
Abel  Whiton, 
Thomas  Bangs?, 
Thomas  Chubbuck, 
Othniel  Stodder, 
Joshua  Stowell, 
Peter  Whiton, 
Joseph  Lincoln, 
Nathaniel  Stodder, 
Joseph  Hill, 
James  Hay  ward,  Jr. 
Daniel  Cain, 
Seth  Stowell, 
Issachar  Stowell. 


There  were  five  others  in  this  company,  from  Hingham,  who  re- 
ceived a  bounty  from  the  town,  but  whose  names  I  cannot  ascertain. 
Enoch  Dunbar  was  in  the  Canada  Expedition  in  Capt.  Ste- 
phens' Company  of  Artillery. 

1776.  May.  A  company  of  thirty  men  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Seth  Stowers,  served  eight  months  at  Nantasket.  His  Lieu- 
tenants were  Peter  Nichols  and  Elijah  Beal ;  Sergeants,  Eli- 
jah Lewis,  Joseph  Wilder,  John  Gill,  Benjamin  Jacob,  David 
Lincoln,  Stephen  Stoddard. 

Aug.  2.     The  town  paid  fifteen  men  for  services  at  Ticon- 
deroga,  six  months.     They  were  in  Capt.  Endicott's  Company. 
Sept.    Also  twenty  three  men  at  New  York. 
Dec.     Also  thirty  seven  men  at  New  York,  under  Capt.  Pe- 
ter Gushing. 

1777.  Twenty  eight  men  to  the  Northern  Department,  under  Capt. 
Theophilus  Wilder,  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  [This 
company  was  increased  to  fifty  two  men.] 

Capt.  Seth  Stowers  commanded  a  company  in  Rhode  Island, 
in  Robinson's  Regiment.  Several  Hingham  names  appear  on 
the  roll.     Time  of  service  six  months. 

Thirty  three  men  with  Capt.  Job  Gushing,  at  New  York,  &c. 
Seventeen  men  under  Capt.  Joshua  Tower,  at  Rhode  Island. 

1778.  Seventeen  men,  for  three  years. 

Eight  men  at  Rhode  Island  with  Lt.  John  Lincoln. 

Nineteen  men  at  Rhode  Island,  for  six  weeks. 

Thirty  four  men,  with  Capt.  Elias  Whiton,  for  three  months, 

at  Dorchester  Heights. 

Twenty  two  men  with  Capt.  Baxter,  at  Rhode  Island  for  six 

weeks. 


53 


1778.     ScvtMi  men  guards  at  Canibridgo,  wiili  Capl.  Jk'iijamiii  Ji(,'al, 

four  months. 
1770.     Lt.  John  Lincohi  commanded  a  company  of  men  at  Rhode 

Island,  in  Webb's  Regiment,  from  Sept.  1,  1779  to  Jan.   1, 

1780,  in  which  were  several  soldiers  from  Hingham. 

Six  men  at  Rhode  Island  with  Capt.  Job  Gushing. 

Four  men  guards  at  Boston. 

Fifteen  men  with  Lt.  Elijaii  Bcal,  at  Claverck,  New  York. 

Eighteen  men  with  Capt.  Theophilus  Wilder,  at  Hull. 

Forty  four  men  with  Capt.  Peter  Cushing,  at  Hull. 

Nineteen  men  with  Capt.  Jabez  Wilder,  at  Hull. 

Fourteen  men  with  Capt.  Ward,  at  Boston,  for  three  months, 

to  guard  stores. 

Seven  men  with  Lt.  Jacobs,  at  Rhode  Island,  for  five  months. 

1780.  Thirty  eight  men   with  Capt.  Theophilus  Wilder,  three 
months,  at  Rhode  Island. 

Five  men,  guards,  at  Boston. 

Seven  men,  for  six  months,  in  the  Continental  Army,  viz. 
James  Bates,  I       Levi  Gardner, 

Lot  Lincoln,  |      Ezekiel  Cushing, 

Jesse  Humphrey,  l      Leavitt  Lane. 

Daniel  Woodward,  | 

1781.  Three  men  at  West  Point. 

Eleven  men  at  Rhode  Island,  under  Capt.  John  Lincoln,  four 
months. 
1783.    Twelve  men  at  Hull. 

Twenty  five  men  were  paid  for  t  hree  years  services.  No  date. 
Twenty  four  men  also  were  paid  for  three  years  services. 
The  above  minutes  do  not  include  a  large  number  of  services  by 
companies  who  marched  on  a  sudden  alarm,  or  of  many  individuals 
who  enlisted  for  three  years  or  during  the  war,  in  the  Continental 
Army  in  companies  not  mentioned  above.  It  is  impossible  to  obtain 
an  exact  account  of  such  enlistments. 

Enoch  Dunbar,  Amos  Dunbar,  Daniel  Dunbar,  IMelzar  Dunbar, 
Luther  Gardner  and  Peleg  Whiton  served  seven  months  in  Gazee's 
Artillery  Company,  R.  I.  year  not  known. 

Perez  Gardner  served,  in  addition  to  other  enlistments,  three  years 
in  the  Continental  Army,  Vose's  Regiment.  With  him  were  John 
Tower  killed  at  Morrisania  on  a  scout ;  James  Bates  and  James  Ilay- 
ward,  both  of  whom  died  at  West  Point;  John  Daniels,  Abel  Cush- 
ing and  Solomon  Loring,  also  Jack ,  a  colored  man,  killed  at 

New  York. 

Several  citizens  ol  Hingham  enlisted  in  the  naval  service.    The 


54 


following  persons  served  on  board  the  brig  Hazard,  commanded  by 
Simeon  Sampson,  viz :  In  1776  and  1777,  Walter  Hatch,  2d  Lieut. 
Samuel  Lincoln,  Peter  Wilder,  Samuel  Stodder,  Joseph  Lincoln, 
Corporal  of  Marines,  Stephen  Lincoln,  Armorer,  Jairus  Lincoln,  Roy- 
al Lincoln,  Ezekiel  Lincoln,  Zenas  Whiton,  Laban  Thaxter,  Jonathan 
Gushing,  Seamen, 

In  1778,  William  Tidmarsh  was  Captain's  Clerk  on  board  the 
Hazard,  then  commanded  by  John  Foster  Williams.  In  1779,  Asahel 
Stodder  was  a  seaman  on  board  the  Hazard.  Samuel  Stodder  served 
in  her  four  cruises  and  was  in  the  Penobscot  Expedition. 

In  1780,  Samuel  Stodder  and  Bela  Lincoln  served  on  board  the 
Protector.  Seth  Stowell  was  Quarter  Master  and  Luther  Lincoln, 
Boy.  They  were  in  the  celebrated  battle  with  the  British  Frigate 
Admiral  Duff,  which  lasted  nearly  three  hours,  in  which  the  latter 
blew  up. 

Jonathan  Cushing  was  a  prisoner  in  the  Jersey  Prison  Ship  ;  also 
at  Halifax  with  Joseph  Lincoln,  in  1778.  They  were  taken  on  board 
a  prize  to  the  brig  Hazard. 

Samuel  Stodder  was  taken  in  the  Protector  and  confined  in  Prison 
in  England  till  exchanged. 

Hosea  Whiton  died  in  the  Canada  Expedition ;  Francis  Gardner 
died  in  the  Jersey  Prison  Ship  ;  Jesse  Gardner,  Isaac  Wilder  and  Ja- 
cob Sprague  died  in  Halifax  prison. 

Joshua  Ripley  was  killed  at  the  taking  of  Burgoyne,  and  Nehemiah 
Ripley  never  returned  from  the  same  expedition,  and  was  supposed 
to  have  been  killed. 

PENSIONERS, 

Under  the  Act  of  March  18,  1818. 
Hingham  Persons. 
Robert  Corthell,  died  May  22,1833. 

Abel  Cushing. 
Lemuel  Dill,  (Hull.) 

Melzar  Dunbar,  died  Sept.  13,  1829. 

Perez  Gardner, 
Peter  Hersey, 

Caleb  Lincoln,  died  June  26,  1829. 

Jairus  Lincoln,  "    Aug.   12,1827. 

Marsh  Lewis,  "     Feb.      5,  1832. 

Solomon  Loring,  "  1835. 

Israel  Stowell, 
Israel  Whiton, 
William  Daniel,  "    Aug.  23,  1826, 


65 


UmlcM-  the  Act  of  June  7,  1832. 
benjamin  IJarnes,  dioil  Dec.    30,  18.33. 

Canterbury  Barnes,  «    April  29,  18;j3. 

Levi  Burr, 
Cusliing  Burr, 
Jonathan  Gushing, 
Ezekiel  Gushing, 
Sherebiah  GortheH, 
Enoch  Dunbar, 
David  Gardner, 
Ezekiel  Hersey, 
John  Ilersey, 
Noah  Hobart, 
Edmund  Ilobart, 
Jedidiah  Joy, 
Leavitt  Lane, 
Royal  Lincoln, 
Lot  Marsh, 

David  Sprague,  died  Aug.  7,  18.32. 

Stephen  Stoddard,  "     Oct.  G,  1835. 

Samuel  Stodder, 
Ebed  Stodder, 
Bela  Tower, 
Gridley  Thaxter, 
Joseph  Wilder. 


NOTE  J,  TO  PAGE  24. 

Mary  Hawke,  daughter  of  James  Hawke,  a  grandson  of  Matthew 
Hawke,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Ilingham,  was  born  October  13, 
1711.  She  was  married  to  Samuel  Thaxter  (11.  C.  1714)  March  5, 
1730.  Mr.  Thaxter  died  Dec.  4,  1732.  She  was  married  to  Rev. 
John  Hancock,  of  Braintree,  by  Dr.  Gay,  December  12,  1733. 

"  John  Hancock,  the  son  of  the  Revd.  Mr.  John  Hancock  and  Mary 
his  wife  was  born  12th  of  January  173G-7." — Braintree  Records. 


NOTE  K,  TO  PAGE  29. 

While  these  sheets  were  passing  through  the  press,  Rev.  Nicholas 
Bowes  Whitney,  the  successor  of  Dr.  Shute,  died  Nov.  2G,  1835, 


66 


aged  G4.  Mr.  Whitney  was  a  native  of  Shirley,  a  graduate  of  Harvard 
in  1793 ;  and  he  was  ordained  Pastor  of  the  Second  Congregational 
Parish  in  Hingham,  January  1,  1800.  His  pastoral  relations  were 
amicably  dissolved  April  15,  1833.  The  length  of  his  ministry  was 
upwards  of  thirty-three  years. 


NOTE  L,  TO  PAGE  32. 

The  individual  alluded  to  in  the  text,  was  Danniel  Stodder.  His 
decease  is  noted  in  the  Town  Records,  as  follows : 

"Mr.  Daniel  Stodder,  born  in  England,  died  March  the  9th,  1736-7, 
in  the  one  hundredth  and  fourth  year  of  his  age."  He  was  the  oldest 
person  who  ever  lived  in  Hingham. 


NOTE  M,  TO  PAGE  32. 

The  oldest  person  now  living  in  Hingham  is  Mr.  Ebed  Hersey. 
He  was  born  Feb.  21,  1739  (O.  S.)  about  three  years  after  the  decease 
of  Mr.  Stodder,  above  named. 


In  March,  1835,  the  nuiliber  of  legal  voters  in  Hingham,'was  673. 
It  may  gratify  the  curiosity  of  posterity  to  know  what  names  were 
most  prevalent  at  that  time.  There  were  on  the  list  of  voters,  of  the 
name  of  Hersey  39 — Gushing  37 — Sprague  35 — Lincoln  30 — Whiton 
30— Stodder  24— Gardner  22— Wilder  21— Fearing  16— Barnes  13— 
Burr  13— Loring  13— Hobart  11 — Humphrey  11 — Leavitt  11 — Lane 
11— Jacob  9— Tower  9— Gill  8— Hudson  8— Marsh  8— Thaxter  8— 
Beal  7— Dunbar  7— Thayer  7— Corthell  6-French  6— Thomas  6— 
Brown  5 — Burrill  5 — Churchill  5 — Ripley  5 — Cain  4 — Stephenson  4 — 
Shute  4. — There  were  three  voters  of  each  of  the  names  of  Bailey, 
Basset,  Bates,  Davis,  Damon,  Ford,  Howard,  Harden,  Hunt,  Nye,  Our, 
Remington,  Studley,  Stowell,  Siders,  and  Waters — two  each  of  the 
names  of  Andrews,  Blossom,  Baker,  Burbank,  Cooper,  Corbett,  Eas- 
terbrook,  Eldridge,  Gay,  Higgins,  Harris,  Horn,  Haskell,  Jones,  King- 
man, Kennerson,  Loud,  Litchfield,  Lewis,  Marble,  Norton,  Nichols, 
Nickerson,  Newcomb,  Pratt,  Perry,  Palmer,  Souther,  Seymour,  Til- 
den,  Trowbridge,  Torrey,  Tuttle,  Wild  ;  and  there  were  one  hundred 
voters  of  as  many  other  different  sir-names. 


APPENDIX. 


CELEBRATIOJV  AT  HIJVGHAM, 
September  38,  1835. 


A  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Hingham  was  held  at  the  Union  Hotel 
on  the  Cth  of  July,  1835,  agreeably  to  previous  notice,  to  take  into 
consideration  the  expediency  of  celebrating  the  two  hundredth  anni- 
versary of  the  settlement  of  the  town.  Of  that  meeting,  Jotham  Lin- 
coln, was  chosen  Chairman,  and  James  Loring  Baker,  Secretary. 

It  was  voted  to  appoint  a  Committee  to  take  the  subject  into  con- 
sideration, and  report  at  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  citizens.  This 
Committee  consisted  of  the  following  persons: 


Edward  Wilder, 
Marshal  Lincoln, 
Increase  Sumner  Smith, 
David  Whiton  and 
Charles  Whiting  Seymour. 


John  Kingman, 
Henry  Cushing, 
Jairus  Lincoln, 
David  Fearing, 
John  Kuhn  Corbett, 
Caleb  Sumner  Hunt, 

At  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  citizens,  held  at  the  Union  Hotel, 
on  the  10th  of  July,  the  Chairman  being  absent,  Increase  Sumner 
Smith  was  chosen  to  preside.  The  Committee  appointed  at  the  pre- 
vious meeting  presented  a  report  by  their  Secretary,  Jairus  Lincoln, 
recommending  a  public  celebration  of  the  two  hundredth  anniversary 

8 


68 


of  the  settlement  of  the  town,  and  proposing  the  manner  m  which  it 
should  be  carried  into  effect.  This  report  was  accepted,  and  a  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements  appointed,  which,  as  finally  organized,  con- 
sisted of  the  following  persons : 

Jairus  Lincoln,  Chairman, 

Caleb  Gill,  Jr.  Secretary, 


Nathaniel  Whittemore, 
Rufus  Lane, 
Zadock  Hersey, 
Barnabas  Lincoln, 
Nathaniel  Richards, 


Martin  Fearing, 
John  Leavitt,  Jr. 
Edward  Wilder, 
Laban  dishing, 
James  William  Sivret. 


Upon  this  Committee  devolved  the  duty  of  making  all  the  arrange- 
ments for  an  appropriate  observance  of  the  anniversary.  They  fixed 
upon  the  Twenty-Eighth  day  of  September  as  the  proper  day  for  the 
celebration,  considering  the  eighteenth  day  of  September  1635,  as  the 
day  when  a  permanent  settlement  of  the  town  was  made  ;  and  mak- 
ing the  correction  for  New  Style,  the  anniversary  would  fall,  in  1835, 
on  the  twenty-eighth  of  September. 

On  that  day,  agreeably  to  previous  directions,  the  bells  of  the  vari- 
ous meeting-houses  were  rung  at  sunrise.  At  ten  o'clock  a  procession 
was  formed  at  the  Union  Hotel,  under  the  direction  of  Charles  Lane, 
as  Chief  Marshal,  assisted  by  Marshals, 


Norton  Quincy  Thaxter, 
Enoch  Whiting, 
John  Waters,  Jr. 
Rosvvell  Trowbridge, 
David  Cushing, 
Bela  Whiton, 
Samuel  Sprague,  Jr. 
Thomas  Hobart, 
Theophilus  Cushing,  2d,3 
Eleazer  Ewer, 
Quincy  Hersey, 
John  Puffer. 


John  Kingman, 
Caleb  Sumner  Hunt, 
Francis  Anglin  Ford, 
Isaac  Hersey,  Jr. 
Caleb  Real  Marsh, 
Seth  Lincoln  Hobart, 
David  Andrews  Hersey, 
James  Stephenson,  Jr. 
Leavitt  Lane,  Jr. 
Lincoln  Jacob, 
William  Whiton, 
Leonard  Cushing, 
Caleb  Hersey, 

The  procession  moved  under  the  escort  of  the  Hingham  Rifle 
Company,  commanded  by  John  Kuhn  Corbett,  and  the  Washington 
Guards,  commanded  by  Edward  Cazneau,  with  a  band  of  Music,  to 
the  head  of  Lincoln-street,  where  the  scholars  of  the  Academies  and 
Public  Schools  were  arranged  in  lines.  The  number  of  scholars  was 
upwards  of  five  hundred.  The  procession  passed  through  the  lines, 
and  thence  to  the  Meeting  House  of  the  First  Parish,  the  scholars  then 
forming  a  part  of  the  procession. 

The  services  then  took  place  at  the  Meeting  House.    They  were 


59 


commenced  by  an   Anthem  by  the  Clioir,  under  the  direction  of 
Luther  Stephenson. 

The  following  Ode,  composed  for  the  occasion,  by  Increase  Sum- 
ner Smith,  was  read  by  Rev.  Albert  Adams  Folsom,  Pastor  of  the 
Universalist  Society,  and  sung  by  INJr.  Coburn  of  Dorciiester : 

The  change  of  earth,  the  change  of  earth ! 

A  theme  to  thrill  each  patriot  breast, 

While  musing  proud  upon  the  birth 

Of  civil  freedom  in  the  west ; 

Cast  back  your  thoughts  o'er  time's  swifl  flight, 

And  call  earth's  changes  up  to  light. 

When  proud  Sesostris'  conquering  car. 
Rolled  forth  to  spread  destruction  wide. 
And  savage  hordes  in  fear  afar. 
Crouched  low  beneath  the  monarch's  pride  ; 
What  nation  on  the  foodful  earth, 
Could  boast  of  civil  freedoni's  birth  ? 

The  tide  of  time,  the  tide  of  time ! 

In  silent  flow  it  swept  along. 

Till  Greece,  "  fair  Greece,"  that  glorious  clime, 

Sent  forth  her  heroes  and  her  song; 

Yet  still  the  Greek  became  a  slave, 

E'en  on  the  conquered  Persian's  grave. 

The  tide  of  Time  is  rolling  on, 
The  glories  of  fair  Greece  are  fled  ; 
Her  heroes  and  her  bards  are  gone, 
Their  ashes  mingled  with  the  dead  ; 
The  Roman  sceptre  sways  o'er  earth  ; — 
Where  look  for  civil  freedoni's  birth  ? 

Swell  high  the  strain  of  grateful  song  I 
A  wandering  bark*  has  caught  my  eye ; 
Her  lonely  course  she  sweeps  along. 
Beneath  stern  winter's  stormy  sky; 
What  brings  she  o'er  the  wintry  deep.^ 
What  embryo  nations  in  her  sleep  .^ 


Swell  high  the  strain  of  grateful  song ! 
A  few  short  years  have  sped  their  flight, 

*  The  May-Flower. 


60 


A  HoBART  joins  the  exile  throng, 
Stern  patron  of  the   people's  right ; 
Where  ceased  he  and  his  flock  to  roam  ? 
Oh  here,  't  was  here,  they  found  their  home. 

And  here,  yes,  here  we  find  our  home. 
Descendants  of  the  sainted  dead  ; 
Where'er  o'er  earth  our  feet  may  roam, 
No  holier  spot  they  e'er  shall  tread  ; 
For,  standing  on  our  fathers'  graves, 
We  feel  that  we  shall  ne'er  be  slaves. 

Swell  high  the  strain  of  grateful  song ! 
Our  fathers  fled  the  tyrant's  rod. 
And  hither  wander,  throng  on  throng. 
As  conscience  wills  to  worship  God  ; — 
Oh  dreamed  they  then,  those  exiles  bold, 
Of  aught  our  eyes  this  day  behold  ? 

Look  forth  along  our  rock-bound  coast, 
Look  forward  to  the  far  "  far  west ;" — 
Say,  may  we  not  earth's  changes  boast? 
Thrills  not  the  scene  each  patriot  breast  ? 
Then  swell  again  the  change  of  earth; 
This,  this  the  land  of  freedom's  birth. 

A  Prayer  was  then  offered  by  Rev.  Joseph  Richardson,  Pastor  of 
the  First  Parish. 

The  following  Hymn,  composed  for  the  occasion,  by  Luther  Bar- 
ker Lincoln,  was  read  by  Rev.  Apollos  Hale,  Minister  of  the  Meth- 
odist Society,  and  sung  by  the  Choir,  in  the  tune  of  Old  Hundred  : 
All  Hallowed  Power  !  before  whose  throne 
Thy  supplicating  children  bend, 
Inspire  our  hearts  with  holy  love, 
To  every  breast  thine  unction  send. 

Benignant  Power!  whene'er  we  turn 
To  scenes  of  long  departed  days, 
'Sweet  memory'  swells  the  starting  tear, 
And  tunes  the  thankful  lips  to  praise. 

Sustaining  Power  !  beneath  whose  smile 
Two  hundred  years  have  passed  away, 
O,  what  a  tribute  should  we  bring. 
On  this  peculiar,  happy  day! 


61 

Protecting  Power  !  bcnenth  whose  care 
Our  fathers  felt  that  they  were  l)Iest, 
iJeneatli  whose  tender  Providence 
Tlieir  consecrated  ashes  rest, 

Thou  Guardian  Power  !  tlic  ofTsprinfr  too 
Of  those  fond  cherished  Sires  would  bear 
To  Heaven  their  grateful  sacrifice, 
And  seek  a  Father's  blessing  there. 

Almighty  Power  !  and  when  in  dust. 
This  venerated  house  shall  lie, 
O  may  our  souls  have  found  a  home. 
— A  fair  and  beauteous  home — on  high. 

The  foregoing  Address  was  then  delivered  by  Solomon  Lincoln. 

After  the  Address  a  Prayer  was  offered  by  Rev.  Charles  Brooks, 
Pastor  of  the  Third  Congregational  Society. 

An  Anthem  was  then  sung  by  the  Choir;  and  the  services  were 
closed  with  a  Benediction  by  Rev.  Albert  Adams  Folsom. 

At  the  close  of  the  services,  a  procession  was  again  formed  of  the 
subscribers  to  a  Dinner  and  their  guests,  and  was  escorted  to  a  Pavil- 
ion adjacent  to  Old  Colony  House,  erected  for  the  occasion,  where 
upwards  of  four  hundred  persons  partook  of  a  Dinner.  The  Pavilion 
was  decorated  with  flags,  flowers  and  inscriptions.  At  the  head  of 
the  table,  were  suspended  the  names  of  Peter  Hobart,  John  Norton 
and  Ebenezer  Gay,  the  first  Clergymen  of  the  town.  At  the  tables 
Ebenezer  Gay  presided,  assisted  by  the  following  Vice  Presidents : 

Jedidiah  Lincoln,  Edward  Thaxter, 

Seth  Gushing,  Marshal  Lincoln, 

James  Stephenson,  Thomas  Loring, 

David  Whiton,  Caleb  Bailey, 

Jothatn  Lincoln,  Henry  Gushing. 

Joseph  Gushing, 

A  blessing  was  asked  at  the  table,  by  Rev.  Martin  Moore,  of  Cohas- 

set,  and  after  the  removal  of  the  cloth,  thanks  were  returned  by  Rev. 

Dr.  Henry  Ware,  Jr.  of  Cambridge. 
The  following  Hymn,  composed  for  the  occasion  by  Dr.  Ware,  Jr. 

was  sung  by  the  whole  company  standing,  in  the  tune  of  St.  Martins : 

We  praise  the  Lord,  who  o'er  the  sea 

Our  exiled  fathers  led. 
And  on  them  in  the  wilderness 

His  light  and  glory  shed. 


62 

III  want  and  fear  for  many  a  year, 

They  spread  their  scanty  board  ; 
Yet  loud  and  strong  their  grateful  song 

The  Giver's  hand  adored. 

Two  hundred  years  have  passed  away  ; 

The  desert  frowns  no  more  ; 
And  glory,  such  as  Judah  knew, 

Crowns  hill  side,  vale,  and  shore. 
Then  louder  still,  o'er  plain  and  hill, 

Send  forth  the  shout  of  praise, 
And^bid  it  run  from  sire  to  son. 

Through  all  succeeding  days. 

After  the  singing  of  the  Hymn,  Jairus  Lincoln  announced  several 
sentiments  prepared  by  the  Committee  of  Arrangements,  which  were 
received  with  much  gratification,  and  interspersed  with  music  and 
songs  adapted  or  composed  for  the  occasion.  Among  them  were 
songs  composed  by  Luther  Barker  Lincoln  and  Melzar  Gardner. 

On  the  announcement  of  sentiments  alluding  to  the  guests,  several 
of  them  addressed  the  company — among  others  Samuel  Turrell  Arm- 
strong, acting  Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  John  Quincy  Adams, 
Peleg  Sprague,  William  Barron  Calhoun  and  John  Davis,  Judge  of 
the  District  Court.  Beside  these  there  were  among  the  guests,  Henry 
Alexander  Scammel  Dearborn,  Adjutant  General  of  the  Common- 
wealth, Robert  Charles  Winthrop,  Aid  to  Lt.  Gov.  Armstrong,  John 
Angier  Shaw,  Senator  from  Plymouth  District,  and  several  Clergy- 
men. A  great  number  of  sentiments  were  also  given  by  the  officers 
of  the  day,  and  individuals  composing  the  company  ;  and  the  whole 
was  a  rich  intellectual  entertainment  highly  gratifying  to  the  taste  and 
feelings  of  all  who  participated  in  it. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  parts  of  the  celebration  of  the  day,  was 
conducted  by  the  Ladies.  At  a  preliminary  meeting  arrangements  had 
been  made  for  a  collation  for  the  entertainment  of  their  friends  and 
strangers  at  Willard  Hall.  The  Hall  was  decorated  for  the  occasion 
with  evergreens  and  flowers  arranged  with  great  taste  and  beauty,  and 
with  the  portraits  of  several  of  the  former  most  distinguished  inhabi- 
tants of  the  town.  Among  them  were  those  of  Rev.  Dr.  Gay,  Gen. 
Benjamin  Lincoln,  Col.  Nathan  Rice,  Madam  Derby,  the  founder  of 
the  Derby  Academy,  Dr.  Ezekiel  Hersey  and  John  Thaxter,  Esq. 
bearer  of  the  treaty  of  peace  from  the  American  Commissioners  in 
France  in  1783.  The  tables  were  loaded  with  a  profusion  of  delica- 
cies of  which  several  hundred  i)artook.  The  Committee  who  made 
the  arrangements  for  this  interesting  festival  were. 


63 


Miss  Eliza  Tliaxtcr, 
"     JMurgarot  Cusliiiv 
"     Muiy  Tidniarsli, 
"     I.ydia  IJarncs, 
"     Susan  Lincoln, 
"     Adeline  Lincoln, 


Mrs.  Incroaso  Sumnor  Smith, 
"     Culcl)  Ucal  Marsh, 

Miss  Moriel  lloiiart  Lincoln, 
"     Mary  Uiplcy  Whiton, 
"     Eunice  Whiting'  Itiploy, 
"     Joann  Kcltcll  Hcrscy. 


IMrs.  Ehcnczer  Gay  presided  at  the  tables,  assisted  by  the  (bllowing 
ladies  as  Vice  Presidents  : 

Mrs.  Marshal  Lincoln,  I      Mrs.  Sally  Locke, 

"     Edward  Thaxtcr,  |      Miss  Elizabeth  Gushing, 

"     Nathaniel  Whittcmore,       J  "     Mary  Beal, 

"     Dixon  Lewis  Gill,  j  "     Mehitable  Lincoln. 

During  the  afternoon  the  ladies  were  visited  by  a  large  number  of 
gentlemen  and  by  the  guests  of  the  company  at  the  Pavilion.  Senti- 
ments were  given,  and  one  was  reciprocated  with  the  gentlemen. 
There  were  also  several  Hymns  and  Songs  composed  for  the  occasion 
which  were  sung  with  fine  effect.  Among  those  who  composed  them 
were  Mrs.  Edward  Thaxtcr,  Miss  Mary  Willard,  IMiss  JNIartha  Ann 
Gibbs  Lincoln,  Increase  Sumner  Smith,  and  James  Humphrey  Wil- 
der. At  evening  the  company  left  the  Hall,  and  attended  a  Concert 
given  by  the  Pupils  of  the  New  England  Institution  for  the  Blind,  in 
the  Meeting  House  of  the  Third  Society. 

During  the  day  the  Scholars  of  Willard  Academy  partook  of  a  col- 
lation prepared  for  them  and  their  friends  in  a  room  beautifully  dec- 
orated for  the  purpose.  And  the  Misses  of  the  Public  Schools  and  of 
Derby  Academy  also  partook  of  a  collation  in  the  Hall  of  that  Listi- 
tution. 

It  has  been  deemed  proper  to  prepare  the  foregoing  brief  sketch  of 
the  manner  in  which  this  interesting  Anniversary  was  observed,  for 
the  gratification  of  those  who  will  celebrate  its  occurrence  in  succeed- 


